It is known that the metal surfaces of vehicles must be coated with anti-corrosion agents. The fact is that even with careful care, the body is constantly affected by external physical and chemical factors, as a result of which rust is formed. In this article, we will look at how anti-corrosion coating greatly helps to extend the life of the body and the car as a whole. If you have an old car with rust and google “how to sell my junk car in Charlotte” for a week, JunkCarsUs will help you solve this problem.
Table of Contents
What is corrosion, why does it form and why is it dangerous?
Corrosion is the destruction of a metal due to its chemical reaction with water and oxygen. In the process of movement, the unprotected surface of the body and other parts is constantly subjected to mechanical stress and comes into contact with air that contains oxygen.
Atmospheric precipitation, in turn, contributes to the ingress of moisture on the metal, and in hard-to-reach places of the car, moisture evaporates for a long time. The reaction of iron with water and oxygen leads to the formation of destructive rust.
The most vulnerable places
The body, due to its complex structure, rusts unevenly. The most vulnerable areas include:
- Welds. Welding cannot provide complete tightness of parts, so there are always microcracks in the seams. At constant humidity in the places of welding, primary foci of corrosion are formed.
- Bottom, wheel arches, niches, and sills. These places are constantly faced with mud, sand, and rocks. When the car is moving at speed, the physical impact becomes very noticeable, so corrosion forms quite quickly.
- Engine and exhaust system. A running engine has a high temperature, which is very different from the ambient temperature. The constant temperature difference also causes corrosion.
- The inner part of the body. The interior gets dirty and damp easily even after short trips.
All these places require different protection since the causes of corrosion are not the same.
Why do you need to additionally treat the body from rust if it is done at the factory?
Many car owners believe that only old cars with impressive mileage are subject to corrosion, and brand-new cars do not need additional anti-corrosion treatment. In reality, this is far from being the case, since the manufacturer’s treatment is more likely to protect the car from factory defects.
In real conditions, the car is constantly exposed to aggressive factors: high humidity, chemicals on the roads, and even acid rain.
The manufacturer rarely takes into account the influence of such conditions, moreover, the quality of factory processing is not always at an acceptable level.
Many cars are galvanized during production, however, this measure is also not a panacea for corrosion. The thickness of the zinc layer is very small so that various mechanical damage and vibration load easily destroy it.
Types of protection
To protect the car, many types of anti-corrosion treatment have been developed:
- Active. It is carried out using tools that interact with the metal and repel moisture.
- Passive. This includes barrier protection, for which various types of coatings or overlays are used.
- Transformative. Includes tools that help get rid of the rust that has already appeared on the body.
- Complex. It implies the use of several methods at once.
- Electrochemical protection is sometimes included in a separate category.
Electrochemical method
A very effective method with which you can achieve the same high result as with galvanizing. The essence of this method lies in the peculiarities of the course of chemical reactions between metal, oxygen, and water.
According to the laws of physics and chemistry, it is necessary to create a difference in electrical potentials. An element with a high potential is oxidized, and an element with a low potential is reduced.
Thus, to protect the metal from oxidation, a negative potential is given to it. The advantage of this method is the anti-corrosion effect even in hard-to-reach parts of the body.
Cathodic protection
Most often, electrochemical protection is carried out by the cathodic method. In this case, the body metal acquires a negative potential and is restored. To shift the potential, it is necessary to ensure the passage of current, which is performed using a special device.
The corresponding electronic module can be purchased or made manually, and then installed in the cabin and connected to the on-board network.
As an anode – an element that will have a positive potential and experience oxidation – you can use a metal garage or grounding in an open parking lot. When the car is moving, grounding with the road acts as an anode: for this, it is enough to attach a rubber strip with metal elements to the bumper. When driving, a potential difference is formed between the body and the road.
Anode protection
When using anode protection on the body, it is necessary to install copper, aluminum, or zinc plates, which will oxidize and “pull” the destruction process onto themselves. As a rule, they are placed on headlight mounts, mudguards, and inner surfaces of thresholds or doors. The disadvantage of this method is the installation of plates, which still cannot cover the entire body.
Barrier methods
Corrosion forms in certain places that are often in contact with water or are physically damaged. Such places can simply be closed with mechanical barriers, which will significantly slow down the rate of its occurrence.
As a rule, the barriers are:
- Special primers and mastics, which carefully cover the surface of the body.
- Plastic pads. Usually, special wheel arch liners are installed on the wheel arches, the thresholds and the bottom of the doors are covered with body kits, and plastic elements or leatherette linings are also found on the front and rear edges of the hood.
- Lamination. This method involves the use of a film made of vinyl or polyurethane. The body, covered with a film, is reliably protected from stones, various minor damages, exposure to the sun, and moisture.
Conclusion
Today, there are many methods available to car owners to protect their cars from corrosion. Make no mistake that a new car does not need protection. If you have an unwanted or broken car, JunkCarsUs will help you get rid of it quickly. The company buys non-running, damaged, totaled cars.