Car engine compartment
corrosion_experts

Engine compartment

A wide range of parts are used in the engine compartments of cars. This often results in the combination of different, sometimes high-tensile materials, such as aluminium, stainless steel, plastics and steel. The components fitted therefore need to withstand particularly high temperatures and satisfy a range of corrosion protection requirements.

Exemplary components

Spring band clipsFastening ElementsStamped Parts

Spring band clips are used to secure hose connections. In addition to high corrosion protection with limited coat thickness, depending on use these must also display functional characteristics such as chemical resistance or adhesiveness.

Fasteners are used in various geometries and dimensions in the engine compartment to establish screwed connections. Coatings for bolts and nuts need to be as thin as possible and display excellent corrosion and fastening characteristics (co-efficients of friction) – in particular where different materials are paired.The engine compartment contains numerous stamped parts, clips and springs made from steel and stainless steel. These components need to display good protection against contact corrosion whilst at the same time offering good sliding properties.

 

Requirements

  • Corrosion protection (720 h as per DIN EN ISO 9227)
  • Stone impact resistance
  • Temperature resistance
  • Colouring (silver or black)
  • Ductility
  • Abrasion resistance
  • Defined coefficients of friction
  • Chemical resistance

Solutions

Depending on component, DÖRKEN offers various solutions for optimal corrosion protection in the engine compartment: from the use of pure zinc flake systems to the combination of different base coats with an organic or inorganic topcoat. Our specially-developed systems enable a high degree of corrosion protection to be achieved with comparatively very thin coats. In the case of fasteners, secure fastening is therefore achieved against different backings, whilst also effectively avoiding contact corrosion. One particular advantage of zinc flake coating is that it does not cause application-related hydrogen-induced stress corrosion cracking - which is why zinc flake is in standard use for high-tensile components.