Product Finishes

Published 11/03/07

There a wide variety of different types and styles of finishes used in the automotive aftermarket parts industry. These are just a few that are specific to the product lines that we offer.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is used in a variety of different applications in the production Jeep Accessories. Stainless steel is defined as an iron-carbon alloy with a minimum of 10.5% chromium content. The chemical composition of stainless steel allows for a greater resistance to corrosion.

There are many different types of stainless steels produced to accommodate the wide variety of applications. The 3 most common grades used, in the automotive industry, are 304, 416 and 430. Approximately 70% of stainless steel produced is the 300 series with the 304-grade being the most common.

304-Grade stainless steel is comprised of 18% chromium and 8% nickel. It is also referred to as medical grade stainless steel. This grade of stainless steel is non-magnetic due to the low carbon content. It is easily machined and is extremely durable even when exposed to the elements. There are many automotive accessories that are constructed of 304-grade stainless steel including door hinges, windshield hinges and tailgate hinges.

416-Grade stainless steel has a lower chromium and nickel composition but contains more carbon. There is added sulfur also to make it more machinable. 416-Stainless steel is magnetic but does not have the corrosion resistance that the 300 series of stainless steel has. This type of stainless steel is commonly used in exhaust systems because of its resistance to the effects of heating and cooling. 430-Grade stainless steel is similar to the 416-grade as discussed earlier. It has good formability characteristics, but does not have the resistance to temperature and corrosion that the other grades of stainless steel have. It will however, polish to a brilliant shine making it ideal for use on automotive trim pieces.

E-Coating

E-Coating is another name for electrocoating, electropainting, or electrophoretic lacquering. It is used to completely coat a metal object. To complete the process, each part is completely submersed into a vat of paint. The metal object is grounded and therefore carries a negative charge while the paint carries a positive charge. This difference in potential causes the paint to better adhere to the metal object. This process also allows for the paint to flow into all the cracks and seams that would not normally receive paint if it were sprayed on. This process is an excellent way to install primer on an item for adequate rust prevention. This works extremely well for vehicle bodies and tube bumpers.

Powder Coating

Powder coating is the most recent addition to the surface finish technology. It was first introduced in Australia around 1967. This has become one of the most widely used finishing techniques used in high volume production applications. Powder coating is actually just as it sounds. It is the process of installing a dry thermoplastic powder to a particular part. The part to be coated is grounded while the part itself is positively charged. Just as in e-coating this difference in potential causes the powder to adhere to the part. The part is then placed in an oven and heated to a specific temperature. This temperature is maintained for a predetermined amount of time causing the powder to melt and form a continuous film over the entire surface of the part. The end product has a finish that maintains a brilliant luster but is very durable to the elements and abuse. This process is most commonly used on most bolt on accessories where a colored finish is desired.