Metallization & Painting for Semi Trailers: Protecting Chassis and Extending Service Life

A comprehensive guide to the metallization and painting process used in semi-trailer manufacturing — from shot-blasting and zinc/Al-Zn spray to primer, topcoat and curing — explaining how proper corrosion protection extends trailer life and lowers maintenance costs.

Corrosion Protection Surface Engineering
📅 Published on 2025-11-20 | ✍️ Semi Trailer News Engineering Desk

Semi trailer chassis metallization and paint line

Image: A semi-trailer chassis in a suspended paint line undergoing metallization and topcoat application

🔧 Why Metallization & Painting Matter

Semi trailers operate in harsh environments — exposure to weather, road salt, stone impact, vibration, and moisture all contribute to corrosion and structural degradation. This makes a comprehensive anti-corrosion system vital to long service life, lower maintenance and higher resale value. Manufacturers therefore use tightly controlled processes including shot blasting, metallization and painting.

📋 The Multi-Stage Process

Stage	Description	Purpose
1. Shot Blasting	The entire chassis is blasted to remove rust, old paint, weld spatter, and surface impurities while creating the roughness needed for adhesion.	Ensures a clean and uniform base surface.
2. Cleaning	The blasted surface is cleaned with compressed air and degreasing agents to remove all dust and oil residues.	Prepares metal for coating adhesion.
3. Metallization (Zinc / Zn-Al Alloy Spray)	A zinc or zinc-aluminium alloy (commonly 85% Zn / 15% Al) is flame-sprayed or arc-sprayed onto steel, forming a cathodic protective layer against corrosion.	Provides corrosion resistance and mechanical barrier protection.
4. Primer Application	An epoxy primer is applied to promote adhesion between metallized steel and top coat layers.	Seals the surface and improves coating lifespan.
5. Top Coat Painting	A polyurethane or epoxy top coat is applied, often in heated booths to ensure full curing and UV resistance.	Improves aesthetics and weather durability.
6. Curing & Quality Inspection	The coated chassis is cured in a temperature-controlled environment and inspected for coating thickness, adhesion and uniformity.	Ensures long-term corrosion protection and consistent finish.

📍 Corrosion Protection Standards

Metallization coatings conform to ISO 2063 standards, while corrosion performance is classified per ISO 12944 (C3 to C5 environments). Typical coating thicknesses range from 50 µm to 200 µm, depending on trailer application and climate. A fully metallized and painted trailer chassis can achieve 10–20 years of enhanced service life under proper maintenance.

🧼 Maintenance & Best Practices

Avoid painting over unclean or unblasted surfaces — poor preparation leads to early rust or peeling.
Ensure all weld seams and interior cavities are covered during metallization and primer stages.
Control booth temperature and humidity during painting for optimal curing.
Inspect regularly and repair stone-chip damage to prevent corrosion spread.

🏁 Final Thoughts

In semi-trailer production, a robust metallization and painting process is not optional — it’s essential for long-term performance. Trailers treated with full surface protection show reduced downtime, longer lifespan and improved resale value. When evaluating trailer quality, the true difference lies beneath the paint — in the steel preparation and metallization process. Alura Trailer is one of the producer that using this kind of coating. Visit Alura Trailer Web Page

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