Underbody Coating

Underbody Coating :

• The coating is a process of applying layers of materials over the car body in white to form a preliminary surface for further painting.
• It is also a process of coating layers under the body to prevent the car body from rusting, damages caused due to potholes of road, prevent is from corrosion.
• It also provides damping characteristics with regard to sounds created in the car.

Need for the underbody coating :

The underbody of a car is mostly prone to dirt, dust, grease and this side faces the rough side of the road and is not taken care of as the rest of the car body. The coating will prevent the underbody from all these problems. A regular underbody coating will increase the life of the vehicle and also has an impact on the resale value of the vehicle.

Process :

• The BIW is coated in the electrolyte to make the surface of the metal ready for further process of coating.
• The assembled car is now prepared for the underbody coating.
• The coating is done by semi-automatic or fully automatic modes.

Types of underbody coating :

1. Rubberized underbody coating

• It is one of the best underbody coatings. It preserves the underbody well, protecting is from scratches.
• This coating also is easy to apply.
• It provides resistance to dust, moisture, dents etc...
• It provides good cushioning also

2. Polyurethane coating

• This coating closes up splits and fractures on the underbody of the vehicle.
• It offers up good protection against corrosion and also bonds with the metal.
• Unlike in the case of asphalt-based coating, we can paint over the polyurethane coating.
• This can be easily removed by removal spray.

3. Wax-based coating

• It is the cheapest coating of all but it wears off quicker than other coatings.
• It requires regular reapply of the coating to perform efficiently.
• They are usually available in a spray gun canister.

4. Asphalt based coating

• It is used in large trucks and heavy machinery.
• It is more durable than any other method preventing rough terrain, dirt and rocks.
• The curing time in this process is more and it cannot be painted over.
• It also has rubber in it providing soundproofing abilities.

Advantages of Undercoating :

• It helps in preventing rust. The coastal areas are bad for vehicles as the climate can corrode the vehicles easily. It helps in the winter region also.
• Undercoating helps in damping the sounds underneath the vehicle. The undercoating material has some rubber blends which when thickened absorb the sound transmitted to the passengers.
• It will offer additional reinforcement, protecting the underbody from water, road debris, gravel and small pebbles. There would also be a lesser chance for the factory coat to flake away.
• It improves the lifetime of the vehicles as it prevents rust and gives additional reinforcement.

Disadvantages of Undercoating :

• Preparing a surface to coat is a complicated task and takes a lot of costs.
• Reapplying the coating is itself increases the cost of the vehicle.
• The coating material is costly.