Ice Blasting & IGL Aegis Underbody Protection
A two-stage service. Dry ice blasting strips the underbody back to a clean, contaminant-free substrate. IGL Ecoclear Aegis — a transparent, graphene-reinforced anti-corrosion coating — is applied to seal and protect it.
The Process
Assessment & Quote
Vehicle inspected on a hoist. Contamination assessed, rust identified, scope and time confirmed before work begins.
Masking & Preparation
Sensitive components, electrical connectors and untreated areas masked and protected.
Dry Ice Blasting
Underbody, chassis, suspension and wheel arches worked systematically until the substrate is clean.
Rust Assessment
With the underbody clean, corrosion is fully visible for the first time. Removal is manual, assessed and quoted separately.
Final Prep
Surface prepared and inspected. No primer is required for Aegis.
Application & Cure
Coating applied to the prepared surface and left to cure before the vehicle is released. See stage 2.
Dry Ice Blasting
Solid CO₂ pellets hit the surface at high velocity and sublimate on impact — solid straight to gas. The thermal shock lifts contamination off the substrate. No grit, no water, no secondary blast media left in chassis rails or cavities.
Non-Abrasive
The media sublimates on contact. It will not gouge, etch or thin base metal, and it will not strip sound factory paint or e-coat the way sand or garnet blasting does.
Dry Process
No water is introduced into seams, cavities or electrical connections — no moisture trapped behind the coating waiting to cause problems later.
No Residual Media
The only waste is the contamination removed. Nothing accumulates inside chassis rails, sills or crossmembers where it can hold moisture.
Rust and corrosion. Ice blasting is a cleaning process, not a rust removal process.
Rust removal is manual, assessed and quoted after blasting. See limitations.
The Difference
IGL Aegis Anti Corrosion Coating
Why Transparent Matters
Traditional opaque undersealants hide the metal they cover. If corrosion starts underneath, you don’t find out until it has taken hold.
Because Aegis is clear, the substrate stays visible for inspection. Corrosion can be spotted early, and localised repairs are far simpler — you see exactly what you’re dealing with and treat just that area.
Graphene Nanotube Reinforcement
The coating is reinforced with graphene nanotubes, which improve its barrier properties — making it substantially harder for water molecules to pass through the film to the metal beneath.
This is what allows a 100-micron clear coat to outperform far thicker conventional products on salt spray testing.
Key Properties
Protects Against
Expected Service Life
Where the coating remains undamaged, IGL’s own guidance is that it is likely to last the lifetime of a road-driven vehicle — including one that sees occasional off-road use — well beyond 30 years. Real-world longevity always depends on the coated surface and the environment it lives in.
Warranty
Manufacturer-backed when applied by a trained applicator to a correctly prepared surface. Coverage is conditional on:
- Substrate clean, sound and corrosion-free at time of application
- Application to IGL’s specified procedure and film build
- Vehicle presented for required inspection intervals
- No subsequent damage from impact, accident, modification or third-party work over the coated area
Email your tax invoice to sales@iglcoatings.com.au within 7 days of application — we can submit this on your behalf. Warranted defects must be reported within 7 days of being identified. Claims are assessed case by case under the IGL Coatings Australia warranty terms.
- The graphene nanoparticles may slightly darken the coated surface — clear, but not entirely colour-neutral.
- Final appearance depends on applicator technique and preparation quality.
- Designed for above-waterline use. Despite 4,000 hours of immersion testing, not intended for permanent below-waterline marine application.
What This Service Cannot Do
We Do Not Coat Over Rust
Coating over active rust does not stop it — it seals it in, where it spreads beneath the coating until the damage is far worse and far more expensive to repair.
If corrosion is found it must be fully removed and treated before coating. If remediation is declined, we will not coat the affected area and no warranty applies to it.
Ice Blasting Does Not Remove Rust
It removes what sits on the surface — grime, oil, wax, sound deadener, failed coatings. It does not cut into metal, so it does not remove corrosion.
Rust removal is a separate manual process — abrasion, wire wheel, needle scaling — charged in addition to the blasting and coating.
Why Rust Is Quoted After Blasting, Not Before
On a dirty underbody, corrosion hides under grime, wax and old coatings. Nobody can accurately quote remediation on a vehicle that hasn’t been cleaned. Blast first, then assess, then quote. You see the vehicle and approve any additional work before it happens.
New Vehicle vs Second-Hand
The single biggest cost factor is how much contamination has to come off before coating can start and that comes down to time on the road.
| New / Near-New | Second-Hand | |
|---|---|---|
| Underbody condition | Clean factory finish, minimal grime, no failed coatings | Accumulated grime, oil, wax, mud — often aged or flaking coating |
| Ice blasting required | Minimal — light preparation only | Full blast, typically 12–16 hours |
| Rust risk | Effectively nil — nothing to remediate | Unknown until cleaned; remediation may be required |
| Typical time in workshop | Around 12 hours (coating stage only), plus cure | Around 26 hours, plus cure and any rust remediation |
| Cost certainty | High — little variation expected | Variable — depends on what’s found underneath |
| Indicative cost | From approx. $3,020 | From approx. $6,490 |
Indicative only, incl. GST. Final quote confirmed after inspection. Rust remediation, if required, is additional.
The Case For Coating New
A new vehicle skips the expensive part. No contamination to strip, no corrosion to chase — you pay for the coating stage, roughly half the cost of the same job on a used vehicle, with far less uncertainty. Protection is in place before the first wet season or gravel road does any damage.
Second-Hand Is Still Worth Doing
A used vehicle costs more because the preparation is genuinely more work — but it’s also the vehicle that most needs protecting. The final figure can’t be settled until the underbody is clean and any corrosion is visible. Blasting and coating get an indicative cost up front; remediation is quoted once we can actually see what we’re dealing with.
Indicative Pricing
All figures on this page are indicative only, provided as a guide to help you budget. They are not a quote. All prices include GST.
Every vehicle is different. Final pricing depends on vehicle size and configuration, underbody condition, contamination level, the extent of any corrosion found once cleaned, and the specific requirements of the job. A firm price is provided only after inspection.
Ice Blasting
IGL Aegis Coating
Blasting + Coating
| Service | Typical time | Indicative cost* |
|---|---|---|
| Ice blasting — underbody, incl. light surface rust & chassis black | ~14 hrs | $2,590 |
| Dry ice supplies | — | $880 |
| IGL Aegis application — prep, mask & apply | ~12 hrs | $2,220 |
| 1L IGL Aegis kit (materials) | — | $690 |
| Masking & abrasive supplies | — | $110 |
| Heavy rust removal & treatment (if required) | Assessed after blasting | POA |
| Complete package — blasting + coating | ~26 hrs | From approx. $6,490 |
*All prices AUD incl. GST, indicative approximate from pricing only. Times shown are typical for a standard passenger vehicle. Larger vehicles, heavy contamination, extensive deadener removal or additional coating volume increase time and materials, any variation is discussed and approved before work continues. Rust remediation is assessed and quoted separately once the underbody has been cleaned.
Common Questions
Can you just coat over the rust to seal it in?
No. Coating over active corrosion traps moisture against the metal and lets rust keep spreading until it’s structural. Rust has to be removed and treated first — no shortcut, and no warranty on coating applied over corrosion.
Won’t ice blasting take the rust off for me?
No. Ice blasting is non-abrasive — that’s exactly why it’s safe on factory paint, e-coat and alloy. It removes surface contamination but doesn’t cut into metal. Rust removal is a separate manual process, quoted in addition.
Why no fixed total up front on a used vehicle?
Blasting and coating get an indicative cost up front — those are the figures on this page. Rust remediation can’t be priced until the underbody is clean, because corrosion hides under grime and old coatings. Once blasted, we show you exactly what’s there and quote before further work.
Is it really clear? Will I still see the metal underneath?
Yes — Aegis is transparent, and that’s one of its main advantages. The substrate stays visible, so corrosion can be detected early and localised repairs are straightforward. Note the graphene nanoparticles can slightly darken the coated surface — clear, but not perfectly colour-neutral.
How durable is it really?
Validated to 6,000 hours of salt spray and 4,000 hours of water immersion, with a C5 corrosion rating — the highest classification, for severe environments. IGL’s guidance: an undamaged coating is likely to last the lifetime of a road-driven vehicle, well beyond 30 years. Real-world life depends on surface and conditions.
Isn’t 100 microns very thin for underbody protection?
Thin by conventional underseal standards — deliberately. Graphene nanotube reinforcement makes it much harder for water to reach the metal, so the coating adds minimal weight and bulk while outperforming far thicker products on accelerated corrosion testing. It’s also elastomeric — hard but flexible — so it resists stone chip without cracking.
Is ice blasting safe on my vehicle?
Yes. The media sublimates to gas on impact — no abrasive left behind, no material removed from the substrate, no water driven into seams or cavities. Sensitive components and connectors are masked before work starts.
How long is the vehicle off the road?
Coating only on a new vehicle: around 12 hours of work. Both stages on a used vehicle: typically around 26 hours, plus any remediation. Then cure: tack-free in about 12 hours, safe handling within 24–36 hours — generally drivable on normal roads the following day. Turnaround confirmed at booking.
When can I take it off-road or pressure wash it?
Give it time. The film keeps hardening over the first seven days and reaches full chemical resistance at around 30 days. Wait at least two weeks — ideally four — before off-road use, pressure washing or other harsh conditions.
Is it worth doing on a brand new vehicle?
It’s the best-value time to do it. No contamination to strip, no corrosion to fix — you pay for the coating stage only, roughly half the cost of the same job used, with protection in place before any damage starts.
Does one kit cover any vehicle?
A 1L kit comfortably covers the underbody of a large 4×4 with some left over, so it’s sufficient for most vehicles. Unusually large vehicles or heavier film build may need additional product — flagged at the assessment stage.
What if the coating gets damaged later?
Because Aegis is self-levelling and transparent, repairs are relatively simple — damage is easy to see and a touch-up blends into the existing coating without stripping the whole panel. IGL produce a small touch-up kit for exactly this purpose.
Can you coat things other than cars?
Yes. Aegis bonds to metals and alloys, steel, concrete, glass and timber — trailers, machinery, chassis, industrial equipment and above-waterline marine work. Not intended for permanent below-waterline immersion. Talk to us about your application.
Book an Underbody Assessment
Every quote starts with the vehicle on a hoist. We assess the underbody, confirm the scope of work and give you a firm price before any work begins.
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