Car chassis
CORROSION EXPERTS

Chassis

The car chassis plays a key role here: It consists of numerous components that form a complex whole that is responsible for passenger comfort, driving dynamism and safety. Technically sophisticated and safety-relevant systems are therefore essential.

Exemplary components

Fastening elementsSpringsRear subframe

Fastening elements such as undercarriage connections, nuts and bolts are used in many different forms and geometries in undercarriages. They are not only required to withstand high temperatures and mechanical stresses, but also maintain defined fastening parameters against various surfaces.

For example, the numerous springs in the brake system of a vehicle have various different dimensions, designs and functions. These are responsible for the vertical vibration behaviour and help to compensate potholes or unevenness on the road surface.

The rear subframe connects the vehicle chassis to the bodywork. As safety relevant chassis components, rear subframes are exposed to constant static and dynamic stress and therefore require a highly resistant and long-lasting corrosion protection.

Requirements

  • Corrosion protection after stone impact (1,000 h as per DIN EN ISO 9227)
  • Colouring (silver or black)
  • Defined coefficients of friction
  • Manufacturer alternating corrosion tests
  • Chemical resistance
  • Stone impact resistance
  • Temperature resistance

Solutions

Various coating systems can be used to create capable corrosion protection for components in the chassis. In addition to purely zinc flake systems, individual combinations of special DÖRKEN base coats and organic or inorganic topcoats can also be used, depending on operating conditions With zinc flake coating protective effects can be achieved using only extremely thin coats. A further advantage: no hydrogen is generated in the coating process, with the result that no application-related, hydrogen-induced stress corrosion cracking occurs. In addition, zinc flake systems also meet the specifications of the manufacturers’ own driving tests, thus meeting the increasingly high quality requirements of the manufacturers.