Underbody Coating

UNDERBODY COATING

Underbody Coating is a sprayable coating, which protects the under surface of the vehicle from corrosion.

Underbody coating provides long term protection from corrosion to car's underbody. It also protects parrts like internal body panels, frame rails and other inner cavities that are not physically accessible but are prone to corrosion.

Protecting the underbelly of the car should be our top priority. Especially during monsoon when heavy precipitation causes the roads to become mini-rivers and our cars are left stranded there. This makes them prone to heavy corrosion in the underbody region.

It protects the underbody substrates from:

• Environmental conditions
• Impacts
• Dampens sound and vibration
• Insulates against cold and heat
• Protects against Corrosion
• Seals off seams
• Hides welds, repairs & bodywork with spray

TYPES OF UNDERBOSY COATING:

a. Rubberized Undercoating
b. Polyurethane Undercoating
c. Wax or Paraffin-Based Undercoating
d. Asphalt-Based Undercoating

(a) RUBBERIZED UNDERBODY COATING:

Rubberized undercoating's data great job of keeping existing rust all covered up and looking sharp, but it does absolutely nothing to slow down the spread of rust and corrosion, sometimes the trapped air and moisture may even contribute to rust formation.
Uses: It is an easy-to-use black rubberized protective coating. It provides corrosion protection from water, salt and other chemicals. It helps deaded sound and provides a barrier against rust on cars, trucks, trailers and other recreational vehicles.

(b) POLYURETHANE UNDERCOATING:
Polyurethane Undercoating may be top-coated with either acrylic or polyester urethane finishes and is especially formulated as an undercoat or sealer under AY&B Elite Pro-Spray Linear Polyurethane and Elite 321 Brushing Polyurethane finish coats.

(c) WAX OR PARAFFIN-BASED UNDERCOATING:

Wax or Parafffin-based undercoating's have a wax inclusion that makes them stronger than water-based undercoating's. Paraffin-based undercoating's can be purchased through an automotive store in spray and paint-on formats. Paraffin-based undercoating needs to be replaced at least once a year at the vehicle owner's ecpense.

(d) ASPHALT-BASED UNDERCOATING:
Asphalt Based Undercoating does provide some benefits over Waxed Based Undercoating. They both stick well to most any surfaces and so a great job sealing out moisture, road chemicals and oxygen. But mainly, Asphalt undercoating has the benefit of being less expensive.

NEED OF UNDERCOATING:
To maintain the thermal conductivity of the vehicle body.
To hide the body works which did during manufacturing, increasing the aesthetic look of appearance of vehicle.
To improve vehicle acoustic performance, reducing road noise and structure-bome vibnration noise, to provide a quieter ride for the both drivers and vehicle occupants.
Making a durable anti-stone and anti-chip coatingt to vulnerable parts of the vehicle. Helping to enhance corrosion performance of pre-applied coatings.
It has good resistaance to abrasion and is over-paintable, making it a versatile opotion for many different areas on a vehicle.

DIFFERENT METHODS OF UNDERCOATING:
1. SPRAY:

The spray is the most common method used by dealers. The spray consists of tar-like substaance that is applied to the undercarriage. It functions as a barrier for salt, moisture and oxygen which causes corrosion.

2. ELECTRONIC:
Removing the electrical current capacity of items underneath the vehicles is another method for applying to undercoat. A weak electric current circulates through the material, reducing the chances of rust.

3. DRIP OIL SPRAY:
This method is incredibly effective at protecting the undercarriage. It covers every nook and corner of the chasis, forming a robust layer of protection.

4. DRIPLESS OIL SPRAY:
In this method waxy substance is applied to the body and undercarriage, forming a strong protective layer. However, the layer can easily wear and tear than the other counter methods.

ADVANTAGES OF UNDERBODY COATING:

1. Protects against rust and corrosion:

The primary objective of getting underbody coating done is to preventing metal components that are exposed on the bottom side of the car to damege from corrosion. You can shut out the adverse effects of corrosion on your car by simply applying a rubberised anti rust coating all over the belly of your car.

2. Reduces NVH (Noises vibbrations harshness ) levels:
Our country is filled with roads having uneven patches and potholes and while we manoeuvre our cars through such sections, the unpaved crumbs and pebbles hit the car from underneath or get stuck in the wheel wells. The under body coating's consistency is so thick that the layer it creates absorbs all unlpleasant noises and vibrarions and marginally improves the driving experience.

3. Prevents Paint Chipping:
Running on the highway or while pacing through a city road, you will often encounter sharp gravel or any other unattended object hitting the belly of your car with high momentum. This scrapes and chips off the metal from down below. A thich layer of underbody coating definitely comes to aid and minimiess the effects of such contacts on the body.

4. Protects Vital Components:
Underneath a car is somewhere a lot of indispensable parts of a car are left exposed like the engine, silencer, etc. One simply can't afford to let these parts go bad due to rusting and hence in order to save you from a heavy repair bill, a considerably less expensive anti-rust coating is a must.

DISADVANTAGES OF UNDERBODY COATING:

1. Less Effective If Corrosion Already Exists:
Once there is rust underneath the vehicle, undercoating won't give you many effective results. Though the coating will be covering the damage that already took place, the rust inside will continue its job to lead to corrosion.
Undercoarting slows down the process, but you must remove the rust first before coating.

2. Works Well on New Vehicles:
If your car is already old enough or you bought a used one, then undercoating wouldn't be a good choice. As coating the underneath of a used or old car requires the removal of the entire residue, it will cost you more which is definitely not the best idea.
So, its better to apply coating on new cars as they offfer premium protection.
For someone who changes his vehicle every 3 to 5 years, then vehicle undercoating is not a good use of your bucks. Because most new cars offer almost 5 years of default underneath protection that you can rely on.

3. Not Impervious to Damage:
An undercoating doesn't always mean protection for a fixed amount of time. Based on your road trips and the things you have to drive against, the lifespan of your coating can be minimal.
If you are bound to drive on dirty areas, gravel roads, it can reduce the quality of this protective layer earlier than expected.

4. Need to Reapply Every 3 to 5 Years:
For on-going protection, you need to make sure you are ready to invest in undercoating your vehicle every 3 to 5 years. Most users can ride their vehicles for 5 years without worrying much once the under part is coated.