As corrosion continues to affect fleets, solutions to slow down the deterioration and offer protection to the vehicle and its components continue to advance. When determining the right course of action, fleets should not only review all options available but also take into account the environment in which the fleet operates to ensure their best value in the long run.
Accuride offers a line of aluminum wheels engineered for lighter weight and more resistance to corrosion. The aluminum wheels are designed to improve fuel economy, reduce tire wear, attain heat dissipation, and meet greenhouse gas standards. The aluminum line includes Accu-Lite, Accu-Shield, Accu-Flange, and DupleX-One. Accuride also offers Steel Armor and ProFinish. Steel Armor is a powder coating corrosion protectant for steel wheels that involves a three-phase process. ProFinish is a refinishing option for steel wheels that combines an epoxy e-coat and powder coat to contain corrosion.
STEMCO’s Defender Hub Cap is built to endure harsh road conditions and is corrosion resistant. The Defender Hub Cap provides protection against water and contamination and offers longer wheel-end life. The Defender Hub Cab has been tested to ensure that the chemicals and ultraviolet light it may encounter will not affect its integrity, says Jim Rosema, director of wheel-end products, STEMCO.
IMI’s MILCURE is a complete steel wheel refinishing system that is a combination of equipment and consumables, such as shot blast media and powder coatings, specifically for steel wheels. MILCURE is a three-step inspection and quality process designed to meet industry standards set by the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC). The system extends the life of wheels by thoroughly cleaning, coating, and defending wheels from corrosion without requiring harsh solvents.
PPG offers a wide range of epoxy and urethane undercoats as well as urethane topcoats that contain corrosion protection properties. PPG also has anti-chip coatings designed to be applied to underbody areas of the vehicle to help prevent chipping of the painted surface, and heavy duty polyurea coatings designed to be applied to areas where excessive wear is common.
Krown offers two specific products that directly address corrosion related to de-icing liquids, road salt, and moisture: Salt Eliminator and KL72 Corrosion Inhibitor. Salt Eliminator removes road salt and de-icing chemicals on the vehicle’s exterior and interior. It is sprayed on with a pressure wash system or low-pressure system and will break the bond between chlorides on metal and non-metal (rubber and plastic) surfaces and rinse them away. The KL72 Corrosion Inhibitor is designed to penetrate and displace moisture and to leave behind a light, active oily film that will continue to displace moisture over the next year.
