Underbody Coating

UNDERBODY COATING

(Case study by Earnest Raj)

“Underbody coating is usually a dense layer often based on rubber applied uniformly to the undercarriage of the automobile”. It is normally sprayed or painted on when the car is just out of the dealership and is clean.

For Indian road conditions, a cars underbody is most prone to corrosion. Underbody coating provides long term protection from corrosion to car’s underbody. It also protects parts like internal body panels, frame rails and other inner cavities that are not physically accessible but are prone to corrosion. Underbody coating can also reduce wear and tear.

Few types of Undercoating are as follows:

1. Rubberized Underbody Coating: This is most generally used underbody coating based on rubber for a car. It protects the underbody from scratches and also easy to apply to the undercarriage. In addition to your undercarriage, rubberized undercoating is also safe to use on wheel wells and quarter panels, and dries to a soft rubbery finish that prevents further rust, damage, or moisture seeps. The coating can be painted over and, if necessary for bodywork, can be easily removed with an undercoating removal spray.
2. Wax or Paraffin Based Underbody Coating: This type of coating endures for a very short period. Wax-based under-coatings never truly harden. During application, they drip or flow into seams and cracks to provide protective properties. They are usually available in a spray gun canister or in an aerosol can and offer at least a base protection in moderately humid climates. It is the cheapest option among the others.
3. Asphalt Based Automotive Undercoating: Best suited for lorries, trucks and large vehicles this provides a greater degree of protection compared to rubber-based coatings. However, asphalt-based coatings contain little amounts of rubber for sound-insulation purposes. The process of applying this coating is a bit time-consuming.
4. Polyurethane Underbody Coating: This type of vehicle undercoating is a little bit quicker and easier to apply. 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, you can paint over the polyurethane coating. On the flipside, this type of car undercoating generally requires a little bit more surface prep work before applying i.e., sanding and applying an etching primer to bare metals before using are generally recommended.

Additional Benefits are as follows:

• Minimizes Sound: It minimizes the sound from underneath the car resulting a noiseless, smooth driving experience.
• Heat Insulation: It insulates the interior of the car from extreme temperatures from beneath the vehicle providing a comfortable cabin experience.
• Anti-chipping property: If any stone hits the coating it does not get chipped away hence protects the underbody from exposure to water.