The domestic auto industry willingly absorbs all the technological charms of world industry. This process is expressed in fashionable releases of sports versions of the best Togliatti models, and in a craze for new electronic assistants. But there are many Russian traditions in this area, which are still quite relevant today. Body rust control agents are just such a thing. Another thing is that modern methods of dealing with metal damage are seriously different from Soviet "recipes." So, if until the 90s the metal was covered with tar and rubber-bitumen mastic, today anti-corrosion treatment of the body provides a wider range of effective techniques.
The principle of action of anticorrosive
First you need to decide what exactly the car body should be protected from. Of course, first of all, this is contact with water, which can penetrate under the paintwork. But the process of rusting most often begins in places where the metal comes into contact with foreign materials, as well as with electrolyte. Accordingly, any anti-corrosion treatment of the car body is aimed primarily at sealing the base. The insulation effect is achieved in different ways, but the main task is to prevent contact of the surfaces of the structure with other materials. This does not mean that the entire body should be reinforced with anticorrosive. Most of the area is completely preserved under the factory paint layer. Additional processing is required in the most vulnerable areas, including door racks, side members with sills, wheel arches, etc.
Which cars is it suitable for?
In Russia, the popularity of anticorrosion treatment is associated with the long-term nature of car operation, while Europeans change cars every three years. If you plan a quick change of a used foreign car or a domestic novelty, then there is no sense in such operations. Another thing is that anti-corrosion treatment of the body is necessary in cases of mechanical damage to its elements. Even the smallest chips require appropriate protection. It is important to take into account another aspect - the presence of factory plastic protection, which is valid for 2-3 years. If road reagents and abrasives cannot start the reaction during this period, this indicates a high quality of the protective layer. But to put special hopes on regular means is also not worth it. When calculating the long term use of the machine, it still makes sense to turn to special services in the car service.
How is the anti-corrosion treatment of the body?
Much depends on the specific material with which it is planned to cover the body, but in most cases the execution algorithm is the same. The first step is to prepare the surface. Specialists clean the machine and dry it thoroughly. If there are traces of previous processing, they are removed. Then a new agent is applied - again, processing techniques may be different. For example, paint is applied using spray guns, and mastics - with special spatulas. The main thing is that the anti-corrosion treatment of the body covers all problem areas. After that, the “working” zones are dried for several hours.
What materials are used in processing?
On the market you can find a huge selection of different remedies. The most common options include paints, mastics, films and primers. Applying a film coating from the point of view of sealing is a good solution, but the smallest damage can lead to a sad result. Quite good reviews are received by bituminous mastics, wax mixtures and synthetic-based anti-corrosion materials. But here, each manufacturer has its own brand composition, the effectiveness of which is largely determined by additives in the form of bronze, zinc, rubber and polymer impurities. The advantages of combined products include the fact that they can resist both corrosion and other destructive processes. As a result, the overall operational life of the vehicle's bearing elements is also extended.
Underbody corrosion protection
The bottom requires special protection, since this part is exposed not only to chemical effects, but also to mechanical damage. Accordingly, the film and coatings are completely rejected. It is possible to use mastics, but only from the category of highly hardening. The most effective solution to protect this part is a multilayer coating, including a mixture of phosphates, supplemented with inclusions of aluminum or zinc. Anticorrosion paint with protection from a primer or the same mastic is also added here. As a result, a kind of “pie” is realized, which is able to protect the bottom from both corrosion processes and physical damage. The most radical way to protect this part of the car involves the installation of tread plates from the same combination of zinc and aluminum. But such designs are expensive and in all variations require regular updates.
Price issue
Car services in most cases offer two approaches to performing processing. The first provides for the complete protection of the car, and the second - partial adjustment of the condition of problem areas. The funds are used approximately the same, and the cost depends on the class of the car. For example, a compact A-class can be partially ennobled for 5-7 thousand rubles. For off-road vehicles, full anti-corrosion treatment is usually recommended, the price of which varies from 10 to 15 thousand rubles. The protection of hidden and inaccessible elements, which include the exhaust system, fenders and sills, is separately evaluated. But in such cases, the most effective means are used - for example, thermal varnish, anigravel films and liquid lockers. The cost of such protection is 3-5 thousand rubles.
Conclusion
A good help for the function of protective coatings will be the careful nature of the operation of the car. Keeping the body clean, timely restoration of the paintwork layer and sparing use of the car in bad weather are the main preventive measures available to any driver. Of course, corrosion protection also contributes to the prevention of destructive metal processes, but it may not be enough. In any case, the observance of preventive measures will increase the intervals between updates of coatings that protect against rust. Also, do not forget that each body repair must be accompanied by special treatment of the damaged area, whether it is the formation of a small chip, or the formation of a weld.