| Cover Story Don’t let rust eat away at your bottom line Anti-icing is a proactive approach to winter road maintenance. It involves the application of ice control chemicals – before or at the very beginning of a storm – that will lower the temperature at which water freezes. Th is prevents or minimizes frozen precipitation from bonding to a road’s surface. If the snow or ice can be prevented from bonding to the pavement, the roadway will remain wet or slushy, rather than slippery. Vehicle corrosion always has been an issue, especially in those parts of the country with frigid winter weather that do anti-icing or that are near the ocean. Essentially, corrosion is the degradation of a material by reaction with its environment. Degradation implies deterioration of physical properties of the material. CAUSES OF CORROSION Corrosion is derived from the Latin word “corrodere,” meaning to eat away. Th e most common form of corrosion is called rust. Road debris, road salts, sand, gravel, etc., can sandblast a vehicle’s underbody and frame. Chips, scratches and any damage to treated or painted metal surfaces resulting from this abrasion or minor accidents – even to a minor degree – exposes those areas to the caustic environment of road salts, de-icing materials and anti-icing chemicals. Compounding the problem of corrosion is the accumulation of road salt, dirt, debris, moisture and/or chemicals in hard-to-reach areas of the vehicle underbody or frame. Any damaged areas ought to be repaired as soon as possible to prevent spot corrosion from spreading. Chips, scratches and any damage to treated or painted metal surfaces resulting from abrasion by road debris, sand, gravel, etc., or minor accidents exposes those areas to the caustic environment of road salts, de-icing materials and anti-icing chemicals. Damage should be repaired as soon as possible to prevent spot corrosion from spreading. Photo from iStock By John Heffernen, National Fleets Sales Manager, Vehicle Service Market, SKF Corrosion poses a large and costly problem for fl eets. Experts estimate that it costs fl eets across the United States and Canada more than $25 billion annually. Corrosion not only forces fl eets to manage a range of expensive and time-consuming maintenance tasks, it also can lead to over-the-road dangers for fl eet drivers and the passenger cars that share the road. So what causes corrosion? The number one factor is exposure to moisture. Trailer areas that are particularly vulnerable include tight seams, or anyplace two metals meet – where the bottom rail of the trailer is riveted or bolted to the steel cross members, for example. Road salt and de-icing agents also can lead to corrosion, presenting potential problems for electrical connections and wiring, as well as nuts, bolts, battery straps and more. Out on the open road, some degree of corrosion is inevitable. But using a rust inhibitor or salt eliminator can help to reduce it and ultimately increase the service life and safety of your fl eet. SLOW IT DOWN As their name implies, rust inhibitors are applied to slow down or inhibit vehicle corrosion. It is moisture that causes corrosion to develop, often in tight areas. Accordingly, if a rust inhibitor is to be effective, it must be thin enough to get into any spot that water can, including seams and spot welds. SKF’s Krown rust inhibitor, for example, is a solvent-free solution that easily penetrates small seams and hard-to-reach areas. The product is eco-friendly and contains no toxins, so any excess dripping or run-off during application will not harm the environment. Road salts and de-icing agents contain calcium, magnesium and sodium chlorides, all of which are highly reactive and tend to cling to trailer wiring. The result? Corrosion on weather packs, and the costly failures that can follow. The application of another product in SKF’s line of rust protection products, Krown Salt Eliminator, effectively can prevent build-up of corrosive chemicals on trailers, in turn reducing corrosion-related failures. This product is commonly applied during winter months, when road salts and de-icing agents are prevalent. ATTACK CORROSION PROACTIVELY Along with applying a rust inhibitor or salt eliminator, implementing routine corrosion checks and a maintenance program offers a proven option for preventing corrosion – one that can help boost fl eet uptime and Trailer service An effective corrosion prevention program should include the tractor and trailer areas shown in this illustration. Graphic courtesy of SKF 10 FLEET MAINTENANCE ❚ AUGUST 2016 ❚ VehicleServicePros.com
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