CORROSION BEHAVIOR IN AUTOMOTIVE TRIM APPLICATIONS

This paper describes the performance of stainless steels, stainless clad aluminum, and anodized aluminum as automotive trim materials. As the corrosivity of the road environment has increased usage of deicing salts, and a desire to improve auto body life has materialized, improved stainless steel trim systems have been developed to provide improved trim performance. These systems have included the use of new surface finishing methods, the development of Type 434 stainless utilizing a molybdenum addition for improved corrosion resistance, and the development of a stainless clad aluminum bi-metal trim system to minimize galvanic auto body corrosion. These developments have utilized extensive testing programs in automotive service which are described in this paper. Examples are also given of wheelcover and windshield wiper applications where mechanical property and surface finish capabilities are also important considerations.