Ford Kuga

 Service Manual

Body Repairs - General Information » Body Sheet Metal
Coated steel panels

In a similar way to high-strength steel panels, coated steel panels are finding more applications because of the better corrosion protection which they offer. There are basically two different process which are used to apply a zinc layer:

• Hot dip zinc coating.
• Electrolytic zinc plating

The following points must be noted when welding:

NOTE: Welding fumes are harmful to health. Make certain that the workspace is well ventilated and use welding fume extraction.

• Zinc starts to melt at about 420 C.
• The zinc vaporizes at a temperature of about 900 C.
• The amount of heating determines the damage to the zinc coating, and therefore to the corrosion protection.
• NOTE: Coated panels have a higher electrical resistance, but this can be compensated for by increasing the welding current by 10 - 20% .

Resistance spot welding is particularly suitable for welding zinc-coated panels, because no widespread warming occurs.

• With electrolytically zinc-plated panels there is no need for any special preparation because the zinc coating does not need to be removed.

High strength steels

Ultra-high-strength steels

Coated steel panels