Fluoropolymer coatings are increasing their market share. Expectations are it will continue to grow to close to 2 billion by 2015. One of the industries driving demand is the automotive business. They have long recognized the advantages of utilizing a fluoropolymer coating on various components of their vehicles.
Why Use Fluoropolymer Coatings?
The reasons behind the demand for such coatings rests on the ability of this process to provide various desirable qualities to a substrate’s surface. Fluoropolymer coatings:
- Reduce friction
- Act as insulators, therefore do not conduct electricity
- Withstand high temperatures
- Are resistant to the negative effects of corrosion
The combination of these characteristics provides properties the automotive industry requires for the construction of their vehicles.
Automotive Applications
A fluoropolymer coating is a versatile tool in the automotive business. The ability of such a coating to prevent corrosion and reduce friction makes it invaluable for diverse car parts. Manufacturers apply fluoropolymer coatings to:
- Axles
- Ball bearings
- Cam plates
- Capsules
- Clips
- Crash tubes
- Cylinder blocks
- Exhaust nozzles
- Fuel pumps
- Gears
- Mounting brackets and/or plates
- Pistons
- Rivets
- Shafts
- Sliding bearings
- Spindles
- Steering column
- Washers
- Wheels
By coating the vehicle’s components with fluoropolymer, fabricators, and finishers can provide the protection the vehicles need to survive the elements. It allows them to endure the various issues that affect vehicles today, including fuel, oil, road debris, and, of course, the vagaries of the weather. In providing this extra level of protection, automotive companies are delivering vehicles that not only last longer but are more durable and safer to drive.
Fluoropolymer Coating
As the popularity of fluoropolymer coatings continues to grow, companies are going to find more uses for it. In the automotive industry, the process has already proven its worth. A fluoropolymer coating provides the ideal level of protection the components of a vehicle require, to perform well under today’s environmental demands.
