Automotive Construction
 Light-weight metals are gaining popularity throughout the automotive industry. Bimetallic corrosion problems associated with the steel / aluminum interface
may be successfully eliminated by galvano-aluminum coating. For riveted systems, the excellent corrosion resistance provided by galvano-aluminum in combination
with the high ductility offers a perfect solution. The favorable corrosion protective properties are maintained even at elevated temperatures.
Requirements
Modern automotive engineering is facing stringent requirements regarding metallic anticorrosive systems. These stipulations are expected to increase even more
in the near future. In some cases, the automotive industry has extended warranty periods regarding corrosion resistance to as long as ten years. New engine
technologies will give rise to increasingly higher temperatures inside the engine compartment, which means that coatings will be exposed to various types of
corrosive attack, at temperatures that may exceed 130 °C. Chromatized zinc layers, for instance, are no longer functional under these conditions.
Additional aggregates on light-weight metal engine blocks may be exposed to extreme bimetallic corrosion conditions. This effect may be controlled by using
aluminum coatings, where other metals will fail very soon.
Galvano-aluminum, due to chromium-VI-free passivation, already meets the requirements of the EU Used Car Regulation regarding anti-corrosion layers today.
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