Protecting the lower part of the body from corrosion and mechanical damage is not just a recommendation of service centers, but a necessity to extend the life of the car. Anti-gravel coatingGravityx, or gravitex, creates an elastic film that extinguishes the impacts of stones and extinguishes the vibrations of the metal. Many car owners neglect this procedure before the first rust foci appear, although prevention is much cheaper than repairing thresholds.
The application process requires strict adherence to the technology, as errors in the preparation stage lead to peeling of the protective layer after one or two seasons. In this article, we will discuss how to properly prepare surfaces, which tool to choose and which nuances of drying are critical for the durability of the coating. You will learn how a professional approach differs from a garage and why. primer It plays no less a role here than the aerosol itself or the composition under the gun.
Application gravitex It is possible to use your own hands if you have the time and a basic set of tools. The main thing is not to rush and perform each stage, especially cleaning and degreasing. Ignoring small details such as headlights or glass protection can turn a useful procedure into a long struggle for the purity of the rest of the body.
Selection of materials and tools for work
Before starting work, it is necessary to determine the type of protective composition. On the market are single-component aerosols for local repair and two-component formulations in banks that require mixing with a solvent to work with a gun. Acrylic mixtures dry faster, but inferior in elasticity to rubber and bitumen-rubber analogues. For areas with a high risk of impact, such as wheel arches, it is better to choose synthetic rubber-based compounds.
The quality of application depends on the equipment used. If you use an aerosol cylinder, make sure it is equipped with a quality nozzle that allows you to adjust the spray torch. For large volumes of work is optimal pneumatic with a diameter of duz 3-4 mm, which allows you to adjust the pressure and supply of material. You will also need a compressor, hoses and adapters.
⚠️ Note: When working with solvents and aerosols, be sure to use a respirator with carbon filters. Organic solvent vapors are toxic and can cause serious poisoning in a confined space.
Do not forget to prepare auxiliary materials: paint scotch, plastic film, sandpaper of different grains, degreasing and rags. To protect the exposed areas of the body that are not planned for processing, a high-density cover film will be required. Savings on consumables often leads to damage to the paint coating of neighboring elements.
Buy gravitex and solvent of the same brand - this guarantees the chemical compatibility of the components and the absence of defects when drying.
Preparing the car for anti-gravel
Surface preparation is 80% of the success of the entire operation. If you apply the material to dirt, oil or loose rust, it will not be able to adhesive with the metal and eventually will begin to fall off in layers. The first thing the car should be thoroughly washed, paying special attention to the wheel arches and the lower part of the sills. Use active foam and brushes to remove the ingrained dirt.
After washing, a mechanical cleaning step follows. All corrosion foci should be cleaned to pure metal with a grinder or drill nozzles. It is pointless to remove loose rust - it will continue to destroy the metal under the layer of protection. Smooth surfaces where there is no corrosion, it is enough to simply wrap to improve the grip.
☑️ Surface preparation
The final stage of preparation is degreasing. Use special anti-silicone degreasers that do not leave the film. Wipe the surface with clean rags, moving from the clean area to the dirty one, so as not to smear the contamination. After that, touching the treated areas with your hands in gloves is prohibited, since skin fat will worsen adhesion.
Technology of application of protective coating
The process of applying the gravitex requires a certain skill and compliance with the temperature regime. The optimum temperature in the paint chamber or garage should be from +15 to +25 ° C. At lower temperatures, the material can spread poorly, and at high temperatures it can dry too quickly, forming a shavel or bubbles.
The composition should be applied in several thin layers. The first layer is often made "dusty" or semi-wet to create a base for clutch. The subsequent layers are applied wet, but without the formation of leaks. Keep the gun or balloon at a distance of 20-30 cm from the surface at an angle of 90 degrees. Movements should be uniform, with the overlap of the previous lane by 50%.
| Parameter | Meaning/Description | Impact on outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure in the gun. | 4-6 atm | At low pressure, the torch will be narrow, at high - a strong fog and overspending. |
| Nozzle diameter | 3.0 - 4.0 mm | A smaller nozzle will be clogged with filler particles, a larger one will give a too thick layer. |
| Interlayer drying | 15-20 minutes. | It is necessary for the evaporation of the solvent, otherwise bubbles form. |
| Number of layers | 2-3 layers | One layer will not provide the desired thickness and noise insulation. |
Pay special attention to hidden cavities and hard-to-reach places. To treat the internal surfaces of the sills and spars, use special spray nozzles with a radial ejection of the material. This will allow the metal to be coated on all sides, preventing corrosion from the inside. If this is not possible, treat the available end parts and process holes.
Features of processing wheel arches and thresholds
Wheel arches and rapids take the brunt of road debris, sand and reagents. There's a layer. antigrave It should be maximum but controlled. Before applying, be sure to remove the wheels and underwings (if any) to access the upper parts of the arches. Often it is behind the plastic underplates that moisture and dirt accumulate, causing hidden corrosion.
When handling sills, it is critical to protect side windows and door handles. Gravitex is very difficult to remove from glass if it dries, and hitting rubber door seals can cause them to swell. Glue all the adjacent elements with paint tape and cover with a film with a margin. It is better to spend an extra 20 minutes on pasting than to wipe the windows for hours.
⚠️ Note: Do not apply a thick layer of gravitex to the sharp edges of the sills. When struck, the stone can split off a piece of protection along with the paint, opening the access of moisture to the metal. At the edges, the layer should be thin and elastic.
In places where it is planned to install a jack, it is not recommended to apply a thick layer of antigravity. This can lead to the fact that when lifting the car, the jack will slip, or the coating will simply push through and its integrity will be violated. Leave these areas clean or treat them with a thin layer corrosion-proofing.
Drying time and polymerization of the material
The drying time of the gravitex depends on the ambient temperature, humidity and thickness of the applied layer. Usually, surface drying ("dust") takes about 30-60 minutes. However, this does not mean that the car can be used. Full polymerization and final strength set occur within 24-48 hours.
On the first day after processing, it is not recommended to go on roads with active traffic, especially if there is dry and hot weather. Dust and small insects can stick to the sticky surface, spoiling the appearance of the coating. If you can’t avoid leaving, try to stay away from the trucks ahead.
Can we accelerate the drying of the gravitex?
You can use heat guns to dry antigravity, but with caution. The air temperature should not exceed 60 ° C, otherwise bubbles form on the surface due to the rapid evaporation of the solvent inside the layer. It is better to allow the material to dry naturally at room temperature.
Full operational readiness occurs in about three days. Only after that, the coating becomes chemically resistant and elastic. In the cold season, the polymerization process can take up to 5-7 days, so plan work taking into account weather conditions.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
One of the most common mistakes is to apply the material to a wet surface. Even microscopic drops of water, invisible to the eye, under the layer of gravitex will turn into pockets of corrosion. Always use a dryer or compressed air to dry out hard-to-reach areas before applying protection.
Another mistake is the improper storage of canisters or diluted composition. If the gravitex jar was standing in the cold, its properties could change. Before use, allow the material to warm up to room temperature for several hours. The cold material does not fit uniformly and may not polymerize properly.
Ignoring the instructions for mixing components also leads to a problem. If the two-component composition is poorly mixed, in some places it will remain sticky, and in others it will become fragile. Use a drill with a mixer nozzle for thorough stirring for 2-3 minutes.
The quality of anti-gravel protection depends on the surface preparation 90% and only 10% on the quality of the material itself.
Care for treated surfaces
Anti-gravel coating does not require complex maintenance, but periodic inspection will not hurt. Once a year, before the winter season, it is recommended to inspect the rapids and arches for chips. Small damage can be painted with a special remake or a conventional anticork in an aerosol to prevent the development of rust.
When washing the car, use gentle modes for the lower part of the body. A very high pressure Kercher can damage the edges of the coating if the jet hits at an angle. Try not to use aggressive chemistry for wheels on treated arches, as some alkaline compounds can erode bitumen components.
If you notice that the coating has begun to peel off in large areas, do not try to just paint over the top. It is necessary to completely remove the old layer, clean the metal and apply protection again throughout the technology. Partial repairs will only have a temporary effect.
Can I apply gravitex to rust?
It is not recommended to apply the gravitex directly to the rust. The material does not have transformative properties. Rust will continue to develop under the film, and after a short time the coating will rise and fall off. Rust must be mechanically removed to pure metal, treated with a converter (if there are micro-focals) and primed.
How much does the gravitex dry before going out on the road?
The minimum time before careful operation is 24 hours at a temperature of +20 ° C. Full polymerization takes up to 48 hours. In cold weather (+10 ° C and below), this period is increased to 3-4 days.
Do I need to paint a gravitex?
Standard black gravitex does not require painting. However, there are flexed compositions that can be painted in body color for aesthetics. Ordinary black material is not necessary to paint, but it is possible if you use compatible acrylic or polyurethane paint.
How to wash off your clothes or hands?
Fresh, unfrozen gravitex can be washed off with a white spirit or a special asphalt stain cleaner. Frozen material from clothing is almost impossible to remove. It will wash off the skin itself in a few days or you can carefully use scrub and vegetable oil.