The car body is one of the most expensive of all its components, and therefore the utmost attention is paid to its safety. The most terrible enemy of the body is corrosion, the appearance of which leads to gradual destruction. Today, many car manufacturers mention in their advertising brochures that their body is galvanized and this supposedly serves as its reliable protection against corrosion. However, in reality, everything is not so simple and the very concept of "galvanized" is not always associated with the processing of the body iron itself.

In most cases, zinc or its components are added to the paint, which to some extent serves as additional protection for the body, but cannot replace metal zinc plating.

Any metal must be protected from rust, corrosion and other external influences by some kind of protective coating. Today, body galvanized is considered one of the most reliable protective coatings. There are several ways to galvanize metal:

• Hot
• Cold
• Electroplating
• Thermal diffusion e
• Gas - thermal

The zinc layer applied by any of the above methods is strong enough, but not able to "resist" mechanical stress, therefore, in emergency situations, the zinc layer is broken.

Hot dip galvanized

This type of galvanizing is considered one of the most durable. Before galvanizing, the metal surface is degreased, etched, washed, flux is applied and the metal is dried. Then the body prepared in this way is lowered into a bath with hot zinc, due to which a corrosion-resistant Fe-Zn alloy is formed on the metal.

Cold galvanized

It is carried out by painting the body elements with primer with a high content of zinc powder, which in the finished coating will be about 89-93% zinc. Cold galvanizing is carried out like conventional painting, which is much cheaper than hot-dip galvanizing. This method is most often used by car manufacturers and.

Separately, it is worth mentioning Kia cars, where zinc metal is used in the manufacture of the body.

The rest of the methods are practically not used in the automotive industry and are indicated for general acquaintance with the methods of galvanizing metal.

At the same time, it is worth considering such a fact as the total galvanizing area with the cold method of applying zinc, since many manufacturers, in order to save money, perform this procedure only for the bottom and thresholds. Therefore, the word "full" galvanizing of the body is not always added to the price lists or technical specifications, which is always worth paying attention to and checking the details with the managers of the dealership.

It is visually impossible to determine whether the body is actually galvanized and, if so, what is the coverage area with zinc. To determine, you need to perform complex expensive metal testing procedures using special equipment.

Alternatively, you can "punch" your car through, where the manufacturer must put the galvanized code. And the easiest way to determine is to look at the site of the chips, if only a dark spot appears, but there is no rust, then zinc protection is most likely present.

The galvanized body does not corrode and lasts longer thanks to a special coating - zinc. Not all cars are galvanized, this is an expensive pleasure. Let's look at which cars have a galvanized body

Manufacturers, especially on older vehicles, use zinc-rich primers. It's cheaper and easier. It is also reliable, but it will not replace full galvanization.

In terms of the automotive industry, the Germans are the most advanced, so Audi has galvanized bodies since the 80s. Now they galvanize the parts adjacent to the body (bumper, body kits, etc.). Many other grades are galvanized, but some manufacturers prefer other methods of corrosion protection, as zinc is harmful to the environment.

The maximum warranty period for galvanizing is 15 years. But there are 30-year-old galvanized cars that do not have a hint of rust. It is advisable to carry out anti-corrosion treatment of the body every 3 years, especially if you make money on a car. So you will prolong the life of the "iron horse".

If you treat the car with care, watch it, drive carefully, it will pay off with a long and impeccable service, regardless of the manufacturer.

Galvanized body brands - list

Audi (almost all models), Ford (most models), new Chevrolet, Logan, Citroen, Volkswagen, all Opel Astra, Insignia and some Opel Vectra.

The galvanized body of Skoda Octavia, Peugeot (all models), Fiat Marea (models from 2010), all Hyundai, but after damage to the paintwork (paintwork), rust quickly appears. All Reno Megan and Volvo models from 2005.

Modern Lada come with a partially galvanized body, and Lada Granta has the entire body. You can list for a long time, it's easier to look at the website of a certain manufacturer and see what he offers.

Proper car care

Most good cars are coated with a special phosphoric solution that protects against corrosion. It is cheaper and more environmentally friendly, but the slightest damage to the coating to the rhinestone forms a favorable place for rust.

Corrosion is a pretty tricky thing and it's hard to hide from it. To help your car last longer without rust, keep it in a dry place. This will help to avoid other problems that cripple the "horse".

Pay special attention to the car in winter. Snow containing salt will damage the anti-corrosion layer. Try to drive carefully on dirt roads. Stones accidentally flying off the tires can damage the zinc plating.

In conclusion, I will add: it does not matter what your car brand, price, manufacturer, the main thing is the attitude towards it. With careful operation and timely maintenance, even a "decrepit old woman" will last a very long time.

Almost every car company claims to equip their models with galvanized steel. First of all, this is evidenced by advertising brochures, in which it is beautifully painted how long the car will serve you faithfully. However, in reality, everything is quite different. In this regard, every motorist should have information on how to find out a galvanized body. This will help not to fall for the tricky marketers and.

The role of galvanizing

Currently, there are three types of auto body zinc plating used by car manufacturers - thermal, cold and galvanic. Cold galvanizing technology means high-quality painting of the entire car with a paint that contains fine zinc. Any galvanizing assumes.

The fact is that the metal from which car bodies are made, even the highest quality,. This is due to its constant contact with moisture.

Usually in advertising, automakers talk about galvanizing a car body, in fact they mean galvanizing only its individual parts, the most vulnerable. Most often, the elements of a car that are most vulnerable to corrosion are the bottom and sills.

Determining the galvanized body

The video shows the galvanizing of the Niva car body:

So, in order not to be left in the fool after and after a few years not to find rust on the body, first of all you need to be attentive to details and not let the sellers speak your teeth.

If in a car dealership you are wondering how to find out if the body of a car you like is galvanized, then first take a look at its technical characteristics. fully galvanized only if it says "full galvanized". Any other inscription indicates that the car body is only partially protected from corrosion.

Incomplete protection is also indicated by the cost of the car. Car bodies are usually treated with inexpensive materials and paints. These cars include multi-series economy versions of Asian manufacturers. In this case, you will not be able to verify the truth of this statement in any way, since the galvanizing test will cost you a tidy sum, which you can add to the cost of a cheap car and buy yourself something better.

When buying a car from Asian or European manufacturers, be aware that its body is most likely galvanized.

Cars of brands, Volvo, Ford undergo heat treatment. They are well protected against corrosion and road chemicals.

The giant of the automotive industry uses a special material - zinc metal - to manufacture the bodies of its cars. This makes the car more reliable, and its service life increases several times.

Along with the description of the technical characteristics of the car, when buying it, you will receive a warranty card, which indicates the guarantee for galvanized car bodies against through corrosion. This is a very important document, which, in the event of a defect, you can present and receive a considerable amount to fix it, or exchange the goods.

Many motorists are interested in whether the body is galvanized and whether it can be done independently. Experts say that it is possible to check the presence of galvanizing of the car body and its quality only on special expensive equipment. It is not present at every service station, not to mention personal garages. Just to satisfy your own interest, the study of this characteristic of the car body will cost you a tidy sum.

The conclusion suggests itself: look less and more carefully study the technical characteristics and warranty card of the car you like. It is in small details that you will find most of the answers to your questions, including about the galvanizing of this model's car body. Also pay attention to the manufacturer and the cost of the car.

Body materials determine the overall weight, strength, reliability and durability of the vehicle. Manufacturers are looking for new technological solutions; they widely use aluminum alloys, new polymers, and composite materials. However, the most widespread products are made of carbon steel sheets.

The production of steel sheet for the automotive industry is well developed, it allows you to obtain a material with the desired properties, and has a minimum cost. Automakers are improving designs and technologies (such as spot welding or laser welding) to improve the performance of their production models.

Body protection against corrosion.

The task belongs to the most important group. Various methods are used to solve:

• Manufactured from corrosion-resistant materials... The method is effective, but polymer structures do not have the specified mechanical characteristics, and aluminum alloys and composites significantly increase the cost of production and the finished car.
• Protection with mastics, painting... The applied mastics and paints and varnishes do not provide the required level of protection against moisture and aggressive chemicals, for example, road reagents. They do not have sufficient resistance to mechanical stress - they are subject to abrasion, crack over time, and are easily damaged by minor impacts. Damage sites turn into corrosion centers.
• Application of protective films (layers of various materials)... The method is not new, but it remains the most promising in terms of cost and efficiency. Among the technologies used, zinc coating is considered optimal (galvanizing, galvanizing, galvanizing).

Zinc as a protection for steel.

Galvanizing is the most widespread method of protecting iron and steel products from corrosion caused by natural (moisture, temperature) and artificial (aggressive chemicals) factors. In fact, more than 40% of the zinc produced annually in the world is used for protective coatings.

This situation is due to the high efficiency of several protection mechanisms characteristic of galvanized steel products:

• Formation of barriers... Zinc quickly forms films of oxide or other compounds that are chemically passive to the effects of various substances. As a result, the access of reagents that provoke corrosion to steel products is limited, Zn compounds perform the functions of a sealant formed on site.
• Electrochemical protection... Due to the difference in electrochemical potentials (-0.441V - Fe, -0.763V - Zn), the latter, deposited on the surface of iron or steel parts, acts as an electrochemical protector. In fact, corrosion processes take place in the protective layer without affecting the base material. Protection extends even to areas without coverage (within the radius of the protector) - if the integrity of the zinc layer is partially violated, the protective properties are preserved.
• Partial regeneration... The potential difference between the materials also causes the transfer of Zn particles to the unprotected surface of the base material, allowing for the self-healing of minor defects or damage.

Problems of galvanizing technological processes:

• Ensuring the required level of adhesion - the adhesion of the zinc layer to the material surface.
• Obtaining a given thickness. With an annual rate of destruction of galvanized coating from 0.85 (minimum) to 6 microns, for a 5-15 year warranty on the body, a thickness of 2-5 to 10-20 microns is required.
• Protection of complex configuration parts.

Technologies, coating properties, advantages, disadvantages.

For galvanized bodies, automakers give a solid warranty - from 5 to 30 years. The characteristics of the protective layer largely depend on the application method used.

Several galvanizing technologies are used in the automotive industry:

• Hot (thermal);
• Electroplating;
• Cold;
• Zincrometal.

Thermal (hot) galvanizing.

Zinc melt technology is the oldest, but provides the most effective protection. It was proposed back in 1742 by Paul Jacques Malouin, a French scientist known for his work in the field of physics and chemistry. The text of the report for the Royal Academy of France contains a description of the method of applying a Zn layer to the immersion surface of steel products in a bath with a melt, and a detailed discussion of the ongoing processes.

Thermal galvanizing is the process of covering a metal (iron, cast iron, steel) with a layer of zinc at a high temperature. The technique consists in immersing the structure in molten metal, heated to 450-500 degrees. For uniform deposition of Zn on the surface, rapid filling of cavities in structures of complex shapes, penetration into places of surface defects (cracks, pores, cavities), the protected structure moves in the melt (or a current of molten metal is created relative to the structure) at a constant low speed.

Several processes are going on simultaneously:

• The surface of the steel product is heated, due to which there is an intense diffusion of zinc into the near-surface layers. Provides a high degree of adhesion of the coating, reliable adhesion to the surface.
• Zinc penetrates into the domain structures of the metal, forming a pseudo-alloy with steel, which has high mechanical strength.
• On the surface, pure Zn reacts with oxygen to form an oxide. At high temperatures, the reaction with carbon dioxide (carbon dioxide) in the atmosphere proceeds intensively. As a result, the surface is covered with a film of zinc carbonate - a solid, chemically inert material with respect to most influences, realizing a barrier protection against corrosion.

Thermal galvanizing has significant advantages:

• The simplicity of technologies for applying a layer of a given thickness (it is regulated by the temperature of the melt, the residence time of the structure in the bath, the speed of movement of the protected part in the zinc mass).
• Homogeneity of the protective coating, the possibility of using widespread methods in metallurgy for thickness control (electromagnetic, magnetic and other meters).
• Special properties of the film that improve the mechanical properties of the product. The upper soft layers extinguish the impact energy, the internal pseudo-alloy mass increases the mechanical strength. According to the testimony of representatives of concerns - car manufacturers, after processing the finished body in molten zinc, the increase in structural strength can reach 50%.
• Self-control of the surface of parts. Indeed, if the preparation of the metal surface (workpiece) is not carried out properly, the deposition of Zn does not occur in the area, the defect is detected visually or by instrumental methods.
• The quality of processing remains constant regardless of the nature of the surface - in open areas, in hidden cavities, even in the presence of invisible structural defects. In the most problematic places - corners and edges, due to the specifics of the process, the thickness of the protective layer increases (unlike other methods).
• Depending on the composition of the steel (the content of alloying components and impurities, including non-metals - phosphorus, sulfur, etc.), it is possible to change the appearance (due to the formation of various compounds), the thickness of the zinc coating. Protective abilities remain unchanged.

The economic advantages of the technology should also be noted - the minimum processing time, the simplicity of the process automation, which makes it possible to achieve high productivity, low cost, the ability to work with structures of any size and shape. At the same time, finished products do not require additional preparation before painting, and the adhesive ability ensures the quality of the paintwork application.

An additional advantage is the ease of regeneration of zinc protection. The ability to self-repair allows you not to use additional measures to repair minor defects. Large, easily removed by local treatment with zinc-containing primers, paints, repair mixtures (included in Zn is involved in chemical recovery processes).

Another important fact is that the coating does not impair the properties of the base material, for example, thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity.

Disadvantages of hot-dip galvanizing.

Despite many important advantages, the use of thermal technology and galvanizing of car bodies has not become widespread. The reason for this is the disadvantages of the method:

• Providing the productivity required for an automobile conveyor requires significant capital investments from companies to equip galvanizing lines with large baths.
• Maintaining significant volumes of melt at a given temperature level is a task requiring serious energy consumption. This affects the cost of production, worsens the environmental component. Heavy fines in the light of the current environmental legislation (for example, in Japan and Europe) also have a serious negative economic impact.
• After the completion of the process, welding, drilling holes, etc., violates the integrity of the protective coating. Accordingly, the design and manufacturing process becomes more complicated (it is required to provide for the maximum number of operations at the stages before galvanizing).
• Some types of work, for example, welding, require special technologies and equipment.
• Constructive calculation of parts must be carried out taking into account processing. Otherwise, additional surface loads can lead to mechanical failure.

As a result, despite the recognition of the reliability, quality, economic feasibility of hot-dip galvanizing, only some manufacturers use it to protect car bodies.

Auto with hot-dip galvanized body.

Thermal technology is used by car manufacturers to obtain a protective zinc layer with a thickness of 2-100 microns on body parts (individual or entire structure). This allows:

• Ensure the corrosion resistance of body structures for 15 years or more (the owner receives appropriate guarantees);
• Get coverings that are 3-4 times superior to others;
• Increase the resistance of products to mechanical damage (with minor influences).

Manufacturing difficulties have limited the number of manufacturers fully utilizing this protective technology.

The leader is VW Group, which widely uses hot-dip galvanizing for cars of its brands. The achievements in the field of tread methods of the Audi company are especially great.

It was the world famous Audi 80 that became the first production car model to receive a fully galvanized body. On the roads today, these cars (or no less high-quality Audi 100) are often found, the bodies of which still remain in perfect condition. Already in 1986, practically the technologies were used for all cars of the brand.

The company is constantly improving technological processes for obtaining protective coatings. The latest developments include the method of double-sided galvanizing not only of metal parts, but also of welded seam structures.

Thermal galvanizing for body elements is also used by Volvo. The complex of aluminum parts and galvanized steel products allows the brand's machines to be in the top reliability ratings for a long time.

Galvanized zinc.

Galvanizing by galvanic method is the application of a thin zinc layer on the surface of the product due to a special composition of electric current flowing through electrolytes. The technology is used to obtain layers 2–40 µm thick.

Technologically, the process is as follows:

• An electrolyte solution is placed in the electrolysis baths - acidic, containing Zn in the form of hydrating ions (sulfates, chlorides, fluoroborates), complex ones, in which Zn is part of anions (cyanides, zincates, pyrophosphates) or cations (ammoniaates, ethylene diaminates).
• The cathode of the installation is a protected metal structure.
• The anode is a zinc electrode (or made of special zinc-containing compounds).

A direct current with a density of 1-5A / sq.dm is passed through the solution. Positively charged zinc ions are attracted to the cathode, restore the charge to neutral, forming a metal layer on the surface. The anode provides the supply of Zn ions to the solution, replenishing the losses.

Advantages and disadvantages of the method.

Electrolytic (galvanic) technology is the most widespread, due to the obvious advantages:

• high performance;
• the ability to process parts and structures of complex configurations;
• density and uniformity of the layer, filling of invisible small defects.

The galvanized coatings obtained have all the protective properties inherent in galvanizing. At the same time, the equipment for performing operations and materials can slightly reduce the production cost, in comparison with the traditional thermal method.

Among the disadvantages of the technology are:

• The need for careful preparation (special treatment) of the protected surface.
• Lower adhesion and diffusion depth of zinc into the material compared to hot-dip galvanizing.
• Possibility (with inaccurate adherence to technologies and process parameters) of a significant change in the electrochemical properties of steel, which may result in an increase in the tendency to develop corrosion processes.
• The manifestation of side effects, such as hydrogen saturation, causing an increase in the fragility of structures and a change in the electrochemical properties of the material.

In terms of capital costs and energy losses, galvanic technology is comparable to thermal technology (volumetric baths, powerful current sources, additional energy consumption to eliminate side effects are required). The method is also problematic from the point of view of ecology - most of the solutions used are poisonous and require special measures for processing.

However, ease of implementation, process control, and accurate results have led to wider adoption in the automotive industry.

Auto protected electrolytic zinc plating.

Achieving a high level of protection against deposited galvanic zinc coatings is possible only with the use of a set of protective measures. This path was chosen by the leaders of the European automotive industry - BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Technologies used include:

• Manufacturing of body parts from high-quality alloy steel with precise dosage of impurities;
• Galvanizing by galvanic method (layer thickness 9-15 microns) with exact observance of the technological process parameters;
• The use of high-quality paint and varnish materials with special properties (adhesion, resistance to damage, ultraviolet radiation, etc.).

The result is no less impressive tread performance than Audi's while keeping production costs down.

Cold galvanized.

The essence of the technology is to apply zinc-containing compositions with pre-selected characteristics to the surface of the protected parts. The result of using the compositions is the formation of a protective coating with anticorrosive properties approaching those obtained by other methods.

The advantages of cold technology include:

• Ease of performing operations, low cost - the compositions are applied as paint coat, do not require special equipment, additional chemicals, energy consumption.
• Minimum restrictions on use - it is allowed to work in a wide range of temperatures (-20 .. + 40 degrees), indoors and outdoors, in industrial or domestic conditions.
• High level of adhesion to metals and paintwork.
• Ability to work with structures of any geometric shapes;
• Ease of restoring damaged protective layers.
• Minimal impact on the environment.

This set contributes to the spread of the cold galvanizing method in the automotive industry, allowing it to be used even in the production of budget cars.

However, the quality of the resulting product may be significantly inferior to the results of the use of thermal or galvanic technologies.

• An acceptable degree of protection is achieved only by using high quality compounds and careful preparation of parts;
• The resistance of the layer to mechanical stress is much lower;
• Processing hidden areas and areas with limited access is difficult.

Zincrometal.

The technology differs from those described radically - it is not the finished product that is coated, but the metal (steel) at the manufacturing (rolled) stage. For this, inorganic compounds and organic polymers are used, with a high content of zinc and its oxides (soils).

The material, like most sheet steels, has excellent structural properties. It is easily supplied to forming, stamping, does not impose additional conditions during welding, is compatible with traditional primers, adhesives, varnishes and paints. The protective properties are not violated during the listed operations.

In the main - in terms of the degree of protection against corrosion, the material is significantly inferior to hot and galvanized galvanizing. Therefore, as a rule, it finds application only in inexpensive car brands, the manufacturers of which, trying to stay in trend, declare about the "galvanized body".

A video about the types of galvanizing, simple and clear.

More about the types of galvanizing.

In addition to various galvanizing technologies, galvanized car bodies differ in the degree of processing:

• Full - a protective coating is applied to all parts, hidden and hard-to-reach areas, cavities, etc. are covered. One- and two-sided are used.
• Partial - the areas in the most unfavorable conditions are processed, necessarily - the nodal joints.
• Node connections - only critical areas are protected - welded seams, mounting parts of fasteners and the like.

As a partial, zinc-plated anti-corrosion protection of the bottom has become widespread. From the point of view of operation and cost, this method is fully justified. Full galvanizing of the body is another matter. First of all, you should consider the cost and price of a car. In addition, environmental protection problems arise - environmentally unsafe chemicals are widely used during processing, the release of which into the atmosphere and water is almost impossible to prevent. The tightening of environmental legislation is becoming the reason for the refusal of European, American, Japanese car manufacturers from full galvanizing.

Is galvanizing effective?

This question is being asked by many car owners. Of course, the argument "for" is a guarantee against perforating corrosion of the body for 7-15 (often more) years.

However, messages on forums from car owners, opinions of service center specialists give rise to doubts. Often there are stories showing that any kind of galvanizing, under certain conditions, ceases to protect structural parts. Moreover, acceleration of the corrosion process is often observed.

Audi 80 and 100, Volkswagen are cited as examples. Passat B3 and B5. These models come from the 80s, 90s, 2000s, respectively, serve as an example of high-quality processing, reliable protection. That is why their owners today cannot make claims - in most cases, despite their advanced age and, often, the difficult operating conditions of the car body remain in perfect condition.

There are also "anti-heroes" of the process. These include, for example, Peugeot 307 (2004-2006). The galvanized bodywork of these cars rusts faster than the untreated metal of other automakers. Poor quality composition violation of technology, other reasons - to understand the experts. The conclusion for an ordinary motorist is simple - often the word "galvanized" is a good marketing ploy. To avoid the catch SHOULD REMEMBER:

• Only cars with full galvanized bodywork can be considered really protected.
• In addition to the manufacturer's statements, one can judge the degree of reliability of the coating by the warranty period - at least 5-7, ideally 15 years or more.
• Even with full galvanizing, a violation of technology can serve as a source of problems and lead to accelerated development of corrosion.
• Processes under the protective layer can develop secretly.

In a word, when buying a car, information about the type and technology of zinc coating will not be superfluous. Some details are shown in the lists below.

Galvanized car bodies (lists).

The most popular brands and models of cars on the Russian market are included in the lists by galvanizing technologies. In addition, the years of manufacture of the car, the degree of processing are indicated.

Hot dip galvanized.

• Audi all models from 2001;
• Cadillac ATS (since 2012), BTS (since 2006), Catera, DeVille, Escalade, Seville (all since 2001), CTS, DTS, SRX, STS, XLR;
• Ford Escape, Expedition, Explorer, Fiesta, Focus, Galaxy, Maverick, Mustang, Mondeo, Taurus (all since 2001), C-Max, Fusion, Kuga, Ranger, S-Max, Tourneo Connect:
• Jaguar F-Type;
• Peugeot 307 - one-way;
• Porsche - the entire model range;
• Volvo - all models use thermal technology.

Partial, one-sided (unless otherwise stated):

• Audi A1, A2, A4 Allroad, TT (up to 2001);
• Cadillac Catera, DeVille, Escalade, Seville (all up to 2001);
• Ford Escape, Expedition, Explorer, Fiesta, Focus, Galaxy, Maverick, Mustang, Mondeo, Taurus (all up to 2001).

Galvanized zinc plating.

Full, double-sided (unless otherwise noted):

• BMW - since 1998 all body models;
• Chevrolet Astro, Blazer, Cruze, Express, Impala, Malibu, Nivam Suburban, Tracker (all since 2003), Camaro of the latest generation (since 2013), Corvette (since 2000), Tahoe (since 2006), Aveo, Captiva, Cobalt, Epica, Evanda, Lacetti, Lanos, Orlando, Rezzo, Sparkm TrailBlazer;
• Chrysler 300m, Concorde Grand Voyager, Neon, Sebring (all -c 2000), Aspen, Crossfire, Pacifica, PT Cruiser;
• Citroen Berlingo, C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C8, Jumper, Xantia, Xsara Picasso (all since 2007), C3 Picasso, C4 Aircross and Picasso, C-Crosse, C-Elysee, DS3, DS4, DS5, Jumpy;
• Daewoo Evanda, Gentra, Lacetti, Matiz, Nexia, Rezzo, Sens, Winstorm (all since 2007);
• Dodge Avenger, Caliber, Caravan, Challenger, Charger, Dakota, Durango, Magnum, Neon, Ram (all since 2007), Viper (since 2000), Journey, Nitro;
• Honda Accord, Civic, CR-V, Element, Elysion, Fit, FR-V, HR-V, Insight, Inspire, Jazz, Legend, Mobilio, Odyssey, Partner, Stepwgn, Stream (all since 2005), Airwave, Crosstour , Pilot, Ridgeline;
• Infiniti EX Series, G Series, M Series (all since 2007), FX Series, JX Series, Q50, Q60, Q70, QX50, QC60, QX70, QX80;
• Jaguar S-Type, X-Type, XJ, XK (all since 2007), XE, XF;
• Jeep Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, Commander, Liberty, Wrangler (all since 2007), Compass, Patriot, Renegade;
• Land Rover Discovery, Freelander, Range Rover (all since 2007), Defender, Discovery Sport, Range Rover Evoque and Sport;
• Lexus - all models from 2007:
• Mazda - auto production since 2007;
• Mitsubishi - since 2001 all cars;
• Nissan - starting from 2007 all cars produced.
• Mercedes-Benz - bodies of all models since 1999
• Mini - everything:
• Opel - in 2008, the partial gave way to the complete.
• Saab 9-2x, 9-3, 9-5, 9-7x (all since 2007);
• Since 1999 Seat has been producing cars only with full galvanized galvanization;
• Skoda - from 1999 to the current moment, production cars receive full two-sided electroplated protection;
• Subaru Forester, Impreza. Justy, Traviq (all since 2002), Baja, Brz, Legacy, R1, R2, Tribeca, WRX, XV;
• Suzuki - in 2007, the manufacturer abandoned cold galvanizing on all manufactured models in favor of full galvanic.
• Toyota - since 2000, cars are produced only in galvanized galvanized bodies. The company uses only full double-sided galvanizing for all production models.

Partial:

• Chevrolet Astro, Blazer, Cruze, Express, Impala, Malibu, Niva, Suburban, Tracker (all up to 2003), Camaro (up to 4th generation inclusive), Corvette (up to 2000);
• Fiat 500, 500L, Albea, Barchetta, Bravo, Doblo, Ducato, Freemont, Linea, Palio, Panda, Punto, Scudo, Siena, Stilo, Ulysse;
• Honda Accord, Civic, CR-V, Element, Elysion, Fit, FR-V, HR-V, Insight, Inspire, Jazz, Legend, Mobilio, Odyssey, Partner, Stepwgn, Stream (all up to 2005);
• Opel up to 2008 - all models;
• Peugeot 107, 2008, 206, 207, 208, 3008, 308, 4007, 4008, 406, 407, 408, 508, 607, 807, Boxer, Expert, Partner - two-sided;
• Subaru Forester, Impreza. Justy, Traviq (all before 2002) - bilateral;

Cold galvanized.

Partial:

• Chery Amulet, Arrizo7, Bonus, Cross Eastar, Eastar , For a, Indis, Karry, Kimo, M11, QQ, QQ6, Tiggo, Very - one-sided;
• Citroen Berlingo, C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C8, Jumper, Xantia, Xsara Picasso (all up to 2007), Xsara;
• Daewoo Evanda, Gentra, Lacetti, Matiz, Nexia, Rezzo, Sens, Winstorm (all up to 2007), Kalo, Lanos, Leganza, Magnus, Nubira;
• Dodge Avenger, Caliber, Caravan, Challenger, Charger, Dakota, Durango, Magnum, Neon, Ram (all up to 2007), Viper (up to 2000);
• GreatWall, Haval - all models:
• Hyundai Accent (since 2001), Avante, Elantra, Getz, Grandeur, Matrix, Santa Fe, Sonata, Terracan, Tiburon, Tucson (all since 2005), Genesis, i20, i30, i40, ix35, ix55, Solaris;
• Infiniti EX Series, G Series, M Series (all up to 2007), I Series, Q45;
• Jaguar S Type. X Type, XJ, XK (all up to 2007);
• Jeep Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, Commander, Liberty, Wrangler (all up to 2007);
• Land Rover Discovery, Freelander, Range Rover (all up to 2007);
• Lexus - all models up to 2007;.
• Lifan (all cars);
• Mazda - up to 2007;
• Nissan - everything, from 2000 to 2007.
• Saab 9-2x, 9-3, 9-5, 9-7x (all up to 2007);
• Ssang Yong - a manufacturer applies zinc-containing compounds to parts of body structures of all auto model range;
• Suzuki - cars manufactured before 2007;
• VAZ, GAZ - in 2009 they switched to partial cold galvanizing of all body structures;
• UAZ has been applying protective zinc-containing compounds since 1998.

Node connections:

• Fiat - almost all models produced at the end of the 20th century (until 2000);
• Hyundai - until 2005;
• VAZ, GAZ - they began to use the protection of critical junctions since 1999.
• TagAZ - all currently produced models.

Zinc metal body.

• Kia Bongo, Carens, Carnival, Ceed, Cerato, Forte, Magentis, Mohave, Opirus, Optima. Picanto, Pride, Quoris, Rio, Shuma, Sorento, Soul, Spectra, Sportage, Venga;
• Renault has been producing zinc metal bodies for production vehicles from 2000 to the present.

In pursuit of lowering the cost of production, BMW and Mercedes have managed to form their own recipes for protection, which are not inferior in efficiency to Audi technologies. The secret lies in the optimal combination:

• high-alloy steel with minimal inclusion of harmful impurities;
• zinc layer with a thickness of 9 - 15 microns, applied by electroplating;
• a thick layer of paint applied to a perfectly flat surface with good adhesion.

A little about Japanese cars Japanese cars with a galvanized body in any of the ways rarely occupy a leading position in thematic tests. The reason lies in the poor experimental base.

List of cars with galvanized body

Test Coating without galvanizing Galvanic treatment method Galvanic treatment of the body with zinc differs from the previous method by its lower cost.
More often this method is found in American and Japanese cars, a little less often in European ones.

By reducing the cost of processing, the reliability of such processing has also significantly decreased.

The coating did not provide a 100% guarantee of protection. European manufacturers decided to go their own way, using the developed new technology.

List of technological operations carried out by BMW and Mercedes concerns:

• For the manufacture of the body, high-alloy steel is used, harmful impurities are excluded as much as possible.
• The galvanic method is applied from 9 to 15 microns of zinc.
• A thick layer of primer and paint is placed on top.

Cars with galvanized body

To find out which car bodies are galvanized, select the make and model of the car.

Info

Use the complete list below. Popular brands About the service Service for the identification and selection of cars with a galvanized body.

For each individual model, you can find out the type and type of treatment of the body with a zinc coating.
There is a big difference in how the body is galvanized. From complete high-quality processing to the simple presence of zinc as a component in primer and paint.

Attention

When a galvanized body is damaged, the corrosion destroys the zinc and not the steel.

A simple type of processing does not protect the body at all, but gives the manufacturer the right to call the car - galvanized.

Galvanized car body: list, description and reviews

In addition to VW, bodies are also treated in this way by Audi, Porsche, Volvo, as well as many other car manufacturers. Considering the cost of processing the machine by this method, it should be recalled that it is exposed to rather expensive premium and business class models. A list of car brands in the range of which there are models with a fully galvanized body according to the hot method:

• Porsche (the first of the models with such a body is the famous Porsche 911).
• Audi.
• Volvo.
• Ford.
• Chevrolet (Lacetti).
• Opel (Astra and Vectra).

The first production car with a fully galvanized body was the famous Audi 80. After that, most of the cars of this company came with a mandatory anti-corrosion coating. Depending on the brand, the coating could have a thickness of 2 to 10 microns.

Which cars have a galvanized body and how is the coating applied

Cold galvanizing is advertised only for marketing purposes: the zinc contained in the primed layer is not able to resist corrosion if the paintwork is damaged. Important! Many manufacturers prefer to indicate "galvanized body" in the list of characteristics, implying partial processing of the most exposed parts: sills, bottom, fenders.

The manufacturer usually characterizes galvanizing all around with an additional epithet - "full".

We find out which cars have a galvanized body using one of the above methods and the degree of galvanization. Auto with a hot-dip galvanized body. The technology of applying a protective coating by hot-dip galvanizing is difficult to implement and requires large investments.

This technique is actively used by the VW Group on all brands of cars belonging to it:

• Porsche;
• Audi;
• VolksWagen;
• Seat;
• Skoda.

Literally all cars with a body galvanized according to the first-class technology demonstrate excellent resistance to the occurrence of foci of corrosion during aggressive tests in a salt chamber.

The pioneer in the line is, of course, Audi, known for its many achievements in the field of tread technology.

Among the latest patents of the company is a technique that implements double-sided zinc protection not only of the body, but also of restructured welded joints.

For your information: the legendary Audi 80 became the first production galvanized car. Since 1986, all Audi cars have already been produced with an anti-corrosion layer applied to all surfaces of the body.

Full galvanizing of a car body: truth or advertising gimmicks of manufacturers?

The car body is one of the most expensive parts. In our climate, it is constantly exposed to precipitation and temperature changes. Having worn out with anti-corrosion agents, many motorists, when buying a new car, express a desire for it to have a galvanized body. Most manufacturers in the instructions for their cars indicate that their body parts are protected with a zinc layer.

It would seem that there is no need to worry: a car with such a coating does not rust.

But with the zinc layer on the parts of the car, everything is not so simple, otherwise there would be no difference between some cheap "Chinese" and an Audi or Volkswagen. Galvanized parts do not give reason to worry about their corrosion How to choose a car with a galvanized body when buying A buyer who decides to buy a car with a galvanized body must be able to choose the right model.

Galvanized car body - a list of brands and models

• hot-dip galvanizing;
• galvanized galvanizing;
• cold galvanizing.
From the point of view of performance characteristics, thermal galvanizing technology is more preferable:

• the corrosion resistance of the metal remains for a long time (from 15 years and more, depending on the thickness of the coating);
• the durability of the coating is 3-4 times higher than with the galvanic method;
• throughout the entire service life, resistance to mechanical stress is maintained;
• the coating at the local level has the property of regeneration (self-healing).

Considering which cars have a galvanized body, it should be borne in mind that the galvanic application of zinc-containing coatings is characterized by much lower corrosion resistance.

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In addition to the Volkswagen concern, the technology is also used by Volvo, Opel (Astra and Vectra), Ford (Sierra, Escort), Chevrolet (Lacetti, Epica).

As far as Volvo is concerned, these vehicles use a lot of aluminum, which itself does not corrode.

But the manufacturer does not skimp on the thermal application of zinc to steel parts.

Make a note of this list of vehicles with galvanized bodies that are thermally treated with anti-corrosion coating technology. Electroplating Galvanic baths have been used for a long time, and this method of applying an anti-corrosion coating is very popular. This technology is much cheaper to implement, which is why many manufacturers use it to coat the bodies of their cars.

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Then the body is made from it. This metal is highly susceptible to welding, forming, it is easy to paint.

However, its effectiveness in protecting against corrosion is low, especially in areas where damage occurs.

If hot-dip galvanizing can be called the best, galvanic - good, then zinc-metal is an acceptable type of galvanizing, which prolongs the life of the body. It has far from the best anti-corrosion properties. It is difficult to name a list of cars, the galvanized body of which would be produced in a similar way. Kia is known to be practicing this technology. Cold galvanizing This is the most primitive and cheapest technology used in the manufacture of budget cars. In this case, we are talking about the coating of parts with a cataphoresis primer containing zinc in the composition. It is easy to find out which cars have a galvanized body using the cold method.
This material is a "three-layer cake":

• the bottom, thickest layer is steel;
• middle layer - oxides with zinc impurity;
• the top layer is organic compounds with a high zinc content.

Cold galvanizing Cold galvanizing is just a marketing ploy invented by manufacturers of inexpensive cars. Cold galvanizing is called the coating of parts with a cattophoresis zinc-containing primer.

Cars, "galvanized" in this way, include many Korean, Chinese and domestic models, for example: Lada, Chery, Geely, Hyundai, some Kia models.

Determination of the type of zinc coating of the body There is equipment that allows you to find out whether or not a galvanized body is on the car you are interested in.

However, such devices are very expensive and are not available in every service station.

Not everyone can afford to change cars every few years, and even fewer people know how to buy a car that does not rust on the street. Therefore, if you have already decided to save money to buy a car, then you should know in advance about what cars with a galvanized body are found. Having bought such a car in advance, you will protect yourself from the destruction of the car body.

Even in 5-10 years this problem will be minimal.

Now let's consider what are the methods of factory galvanizing the body:

• Hot.

  It is considered the best type of zinc plating. Provides the best corrosion resistance for any vehicle model.

• Galvanic.

  Treat good galvanized types. The soil and paint are well applied to the body after such treatment.

• Zincrometal. This method provides mediocre anticorrosive properties.
• Cold galvanized.