Chemical Solutions That Keep Trailers Durable, Sealed, and Road-Ready

Chemical Solutions That Keep Trailers Durable, Sealed, and Road-Ready

When it comes to building, maintaining, or upgrading trailers, many of the most critical solutions aren’t mechanical—they’re chemical. From protecting metal from rust to bonding components either without or as a supplement to mechanical fasteners, to sealing out moisture and grime, chemical products play a crucial role in trailer performance and longevity.

At Austin Hardware, we offer a wide range of industrial-grade chemical products that trailer OEMs, dealers, and consumers rely on every day. Our selection includes adhesives, sealants, corrosion inhibitors, threadlockers, anti-seize compounds, and industrial cleaners and degreasers.

Here’s an overview of how these chemical products are utilized for trailers.

Structural adhesives are increasingly being used during trailer manufacturing to replace or supplement mechanical fasteners. These high-strength bonding agents are ideal for joining dissimilar materials like aluminum and composite panels.

As fuel prices rise and the pressure to reduce weight increases, adhesives are becoming more prevalent to help reduce the reliance on mechanical fasteners. Adhesives also help to improve aesthetics by allowing for smooth, uninterrupted surfaces.

Along with a good corrosion inhibitor, which we’ll touch on later, adhesives can help to reduce corrosion by sealing out moisture at the joint. They’re also excellent at reducing vibration and road noise.

Typical trailer applications for structural adhesives include:

• Wall panels and roof skins
• Trim and molding attachments
• Composite flooring and interior panels

Contact adhesives, like Quin Global’s AH07 and AH90, differ from structural adhesives because they usually can't handle the same high loads and stresses. Still, contact adhesives are very useful during manufacturing because of their quick initial tack. They work well as a complement to mechanical fasteners. For instance, when assembling two substrates that need to be moved before applying a mechanical fastener, the contact adhesive can quickly bond the substrates, ensuring they stay in spec as they are moved to the point where they can be permanently attached with fasteners.

Sealants serve a purpose similar to that of adhesives. While they aren’t used to bond components together, they are essential for preventing trailer damage by keeping out water, dust, and road grime. These elements, particularly water, can cause rot and corrosion over time. Additionally, sealants provide benefits such as thermal and acoustic insulation and help maintain the structural integrity of joints.

Sealants are used on:

• Roof seams and corner joints
• Sidewall paneling
• Window, door, and vent openings
• Around lighting and electrical passthroughs

Austin offers many different types of sealants, including polyurethane, silicone, MS polymer, butyl, and more from brands like Sika, Plexus, HB Fuller, and 3M, to cover any trailer application.

Corrosion inhibitors like ECK Complete Corrosion Control, as previously mentioned, play a critical role in preventing corrosion when applied during assembly. Trailers encounter harsh environmental conditions. Road salt, rain, mud, and heat can quickly corrode unprotected metal surfaces. Furthermore, trailers are particularly vulnerable to galvanic corrosion, which occurs when two dissimilar metals contact each other in the presence of an electrolyte. ECK, when applied to dissimilar metals that touch each other on your trailer, contains zinc, allowing it to sacrifice itself and prevent corrosion, ultimately helping to extend the life of your trailer.

ECK should be applied upon assembly to:

• Undercarriages, axles, and chassis
• Weld seams and exposed fasteners
• Battery boxes and electrical enclosures
• Trailer hitches and tongue jacks

Fasteners require additional support to maintain their secure positioning in a trailer's high-vibration environment. Threadlockers effectively prevent loosening over time, while anti-seize lubricants protect high-load threads from galling or seizing, especially in applications involving high heat or outdoor conditions.

Threadlockers and anti-size lubricants can really be applied wherever mechanical fasteners are used, but typical trailer applications include:

• Axle assemblies
• Braking system fasteners
• Hitch components
• Suspension hardware

Using the right chemical on a bolt or stud can make all the difference in both safety and serviceability.

Finally, we come to the essentials for maintenance and prep work – industrial cleaners and degreasers. Whether you're prepping a surface for bonding or keeping fleet trailers looking sharp, industrial cleaners are critical tools. Through our 4TH GEN brand, Austin Hardware offers a ready-to-use natural industrial all-purpose cleaner/degreaser as well as a glass and hard surface cleaner. If you use these products in greater volume and prefer a concentrated solution, we also offer the Quantum NuBlend Sigma Green All-Purpose Cleaner & Degreaser Super-Concentrate that delivers maximum performance in a concentrated formula without harming users or the environment.

Applications:

• Surface prep for adhesives or coatings
• Removing road grime, grease, and oil from metal parts
• Interior detailing and sanitizing

Chemical products are essential to ensuring trailers perform as expected, from the production line to the repair bay. Austin Hardware has the expertise to help you choose the right one for every job.

Why choose Austin Hardware for your chemical needs? We offer trusted brands and proven products in every means of delivery available. We also employ numerous product experts who have made their careers working for chemical product manufacturers before joining our team. We can help you pick the right solution for every application.

Contact us today or browse our full chemical product lineup at www.austinhardware.com. To learn more about the chemical solutions available at Austin Hardware, from respected brands like Sika, Plexus, Quin Global, H.B. Fuller, 4^TH GEN, and many others, we invite you to visit our dedicated web page or contact one of our 11 nationwide locations nearest to you.