From the smallest fastener to the largest structural component, every detail matters in modern automotive design. Industrial coatings are one of those unseen details that help vehicles run safer, last longer, and perform better in harsh conditions.
For more than 50 years, Coating Systems, Inc. (CSI) has partnered with OEMs and Tier suppliers across the U.S. to provide specialized fluoropolymers, dry films, and resin coatings that meet the highest standards of quality and reliability.
This post explores how advanced coatings improve safety, durability, and compliance in the automotive industry, and why they’re a key factor in modern vehicle engineering.
Enhancing Safety-Critical Components
Safety begins long before a vehicle hits the road. Every fastener, brake pin, and latch must install smoothly and perform consistently to meet strict OEM safety standards. Advanced coatings help achieve that consistency.
Seat Belts, Brakes, and Fasteners
- Threaded fasteners and clips: Dry-film lubricants reduce installation torque variation and prevent seizing, ensuring accurate, repeatable tightening during assembly.
- Brake hardware and caliper pins: Coatings with low-friction properties keep contact surfaces moving freely, helping to minimize brake noise caused by sticking or vibration.
- Seat belt latches and guides: Non-stick coatings prevent binding and wear at critical points of contact.
Reducing Friction for Safer Operation
Fluoropolymer coatings, such as PTFE, offer clean release and consistent friction control, reducing twisting, tearing, or galling during assembly.
For components exposed to movement or higher load, molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) coatings deliver solid lubrication and long-term reliability.
It’s important to note that these coatings are surface treatments, not permanent barriers. Their purpose is to improve assembly and operational consistency, not to make parts wear-proof or permanently lubricated.
Protecting Against Corrosion and Environmental Damage
Between road salt, moisture, and extreme temperature fluctuations, vehicle components are constantly exposed to corrosive elements. Coatings play a crucial role in the functionality of parts, making them easier to maintain and repair.
Underbody and Exterior Protection
- Low-surface-energy coatings help prevent the buildup of debris, making components easier to clean.
- Coated clips, brackets, and housings resist sticking and reduce the risk of corrosion when combined with proper primers and substrate treatments.
Environmental Testing and Standards
In the automotive world, corrosion performance is often validated through accelerated testing, such as ASTM B117 salt spray testing. While not a direct predictor of real-world service life, it helps manufacturers monitor finishing process stability and identify potential issues early.
At CSI, coatings are engineered to complement, not replace, corrosion-resistant materials and surface treatments. When used correctly, they help reduce maintenance cycles and improve long-term part reliability.
Improving Mechanical Performance
Every moving part generates friction, which can reduce efficiency and cause wear over time. The right coating helps control that friction for smoother operation and extended part life.
PTFE and Dry-Film Coatings for Moving Parts
- PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) coatings provide low friction and release performance, making them ideal for static or limited-motion components.
- Dry-film lubricants, like MoS₂, are better suited for dynamic parts that experience repeated motion and higher stress.
Performance That Pays Off
Our coating processes ensure consistent film thickness, adhesion, and cure—important details that directly influence how a component performs.
Streamlining Manufacturing and Quality Control
In automotive production, consistency isn’t optional; it’s required. Coatings that simplify assembly, improve torque consistency, and reduce rework directly translate into higher productivity.
Automated and Precision-Controlled Application
From high-volume powder coatings to specialty fluoropolymers, Coating Systems uses application systems that ensure results. Dip-spin processes are calibrated to meet precise specifications, even on complex geometries.
Quality Built Into Every Lot
We maintain strict process controls, including bulk-lot traceability and random sampling, for visual and adhesion testing. Non-conforming parts are immediately segregated, and enhanced documentation is available upon request for OEM and Tier supplier compliance.
Compliance and Industry Standards
Automotive coatings operate within a complex network of OEM engineering standards and regulatory expectations. While coatings themselves aren’t safety systems, they play a vital supporting role in ensuring components perform as intended throughout testing and validation.
Common Reference Frameworks
- NHTSA Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS): Coatings near or on safety systems must not affect system function or performance validation.
- ASTM testing: Methods such as ASTM B117 provide comparative data for corrosion performance, helping validate coating and pretreatment processes.
Coating Systems’ team works closely with automotive engineers to ensure every coating system meets both functional and regulatory benchmarks before it ever reaches production scale.
Benefits of Automotive Coatings for OEMs and Suppliers
When applied correctly, coatings do far more than add a finishing layer. From manufacturing to long-term performance, these benefits extend across the entire production cycle:
- Safety support: Lower friction during assembly and operation ensures consistent torque, smooth motion, and reduces the risk of fastener or hardware damage.
- Environmental tolerance: Improved release and cleanability that support durability plans for brackets, clips, housings, and other exposed hardware.
- Mechanical reliability: Correctly specified dry films reduce friction at interfaces, helping components operate as designed.
- Production efficiency: Repeatable application, film build control, and bulk lot QA help reduce rework and variability.
- Compliance alignment: Coating choices and validation methods that fit OEM requirements and test plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few of the most common questions automotive engineers and manufacturers ask when evaluating coating options:
PTFE and other fluoropolymers are often used for low-friction surfaces, while MoS₂-based coatings are preferred for high-load or dynamic components.
No. Most fluoropolymer and dry-film coatings are temporary surface treatments that improve cleanability and performance but don’t replace corrosion-resistant materials or primers.
Each production lot undergoes random sampling and adhesion testing. Detailed process controls and traceability maintain consistent quality from start to finish.
No. Color is used for part identification and quality control, not as an indicator of coating strength or chemical resistance.
Yes, if improperly specified. CSI recommends early sampling and testing to verify coating compatibility with your processes.
Reach Out to Coating Systems for Industrial Coating Solutions
Automotive coatings do more than protect—they improve how components fit, perform, and last.
With superior craftsmanship, over 50 years of experience, and proven quality control, Coating Systems, Inc. helps OEMs and suppliers achieve safer, more reliable results across every vehicle program.
Ready to explore coating options for your next automotive project?
Contact us today to connect with our experts!