Automotive Fastener Coatings

Automotive fasteners are the most sophisticated application for corrosion protection coatings. A diversity of coating technologies is used to fulfill the wide range of requirements from the global automotive OEMs.

Cars are assembled with robots that are programmed to use a specified torque to fasten the bolts. The coefficient of friction of the coatings have to exactly match a certain coefficient of friction range to make sure that the bolts are fastened in the right way. As fasteners are safety parts these values are constantly controlled during plating production. Integrated lubricants make sure that the right values are always met.

More and more light metals are used in the automotive industry to reduce weight of components. For this reason the compatibility of coating material to aluminum as well as magnesium has to be taken into account. Contact corrosion of light metals in presence of humidity is an obstacle to overcome by using the best coating.

Atotech has developed perfect coating combinations, to provide the best solutions both for electrolytic deposition as well as for dip spin applications.

Typical process sequences with recommended products for electrolytic zinc coatings, electrolytic zinc nickel coatings and zinc flake coatings.