Underbody Protection: Effective Protection Against Corrosion with a Thick-Film Coating
Maintaining and protecting a vehicle’s underbody is essential for extending its service life and ensuring safety. Particular attention should be paid to the use of wax-based products, which can also be referred to as thick-film protection. These products offer an excellent way to protect the underbody against the various challenges posed by corrosion and mechanical stress.
CHALLENGE
Inadequate protection against corrosion
Not all components on a vehicle's underbody are adequately protected against corrosion. Corrosion is a significant problem, especially in regions with heavy stone chips or in areas where salt is frequently spread on the roads.
Damage to the cathodic dip coating (KTL) or other passivating protective coatings can quickly lead to corrosion in the presence of water and salts. This poses a major challenge for vehicle manufacturers and owners, as even minor damage to the protective coating can compromise the integrity of the entire component.
CHALLENGE
Long-term flexible protective coating
An effective solution to this problem is to coat the underbody with a thick, long-term flexible protective layer. This type of thick-film protection can slow down stone chips and, thanks to its self-healing properties, repair any damage that occurs, thereby protecting the underlying components. Due to the coating’s flexibility, it remains intact even under mechanical stress, thus preventing the penetration of water and salts.
PFINDER products are specifically designed to meet the requirements for underbody protection. They provide a thick, viscoelastic protective layer that adapts perfectly to the various shapes and materials of the underbody. These products are characterized by their excellent flow properties, which allow them to penetrate even the smallest cracks and holes. This is particularly important for forming a complete barrier against water and other corrosive elements.
How Wax-Based Products Work
PFINDER's wax-based protective products work on multiple levels to effectively protect the underbody:
Mechanical barrier
The thick coating absorbs some of the energy from stone chips, thereby reducing or preventing mechanical damage to the underlying layers.
Corrosion protection
By forming a continuous barrier, the penetration of water and salt is prevented, which significantly slows down or completely prevents the corrosion process.
Flexibility
The coating's long-term flexibility ensures that it will not crack or peel, even when exposed to temperature fluctuations and mechanical stress.
Crawling ability
The fluid properties of these wax-like products allow them to seal even the smallest cracks and holes, creating a comprehensive protective layer.
Uses and Benefits
These products are relatively easy to use and can be applied in both production and retrofit applications. PFINDER’s air-drying systems also offer the advantage of curing without additional heat sources, which reduces energy consumption and protects the environment. The company even offers solvent-free systems that neither drip nor produce a heavy spray mist.
PFINDER’s wax-like thick-film protective products are an excellent choice for any vehicle owner who wants to provide long-term protection for their vehicle’s underbody. Thanks to their versatile protective mechanisms, they help extend the vehicle’s service life and preserve its value. These products prove to be indispensable, especially in regions with high mechanical and corrosive stress.
Specific Applications on the Underbody
The following diagram shows the areas of the underbody where different types of protection can be applied. The protective coatings are shown in light gray, the thick-film stone chip protection in dark gray, and the thick-film protection with a self-healing effect in brown:
Click on the individual coatings below to see where they can be used:
This detailed breakdown makes it possible to apply the appropriate protective measure to each area of the underbody, thereby ensuring optimal protection against mechanical and corrosive influences.
Overall, PFINDER’s wax-based products offer comprehensive protection for vehicle underbodies. Their ability to absorb mechanical damage while providing effective corrosion protection makes them an ideal solution for the diverse challenges faced by a vehicle’s underbody.