Skid Plates and Mag Chloride in Colorado

I am putting together an order to add some skid plates for covering the areas that are not covered on my 2016 DCORSB.

Unless someone steers me another way I am getting skids from RCI. They have an option for 1/4" aluminum and 3/16 steel. Both options can be powder coated, even though I prefer painting armor for easy touch up. I would prefer to order the lighter 1/4 aluminum, and paint them.

Are there any chemists or aluminum skid plate owners here that can enlighten me about the effects of aluminum and the mag chloride they use here in Colorado? Should I get the bare metal and paint them, or is there $35 benefit to getting them powder coated?

 

I'm not a chemist, but I know anything metal is susceptible to corrosion. Aluminum's resistance to Mag Chloride corrosion is directly related to its magnesium content, while (stainless) steel's resistance varies with its chromium content. Regardless of those contents, however, Mag Chloride will corrode both metals. Given the harsh service and full-time exposure skid plates see, powder coating will provide better protection.

 

As long as there is paint between the skid and mag chrloride you should be fine with corrosion, but if it's not sealed it will find its way in. Just remember ford f-150's are aluminum now and they don't corrode bc of paint

 

Most of us pull them off in Fall for a touch up/ re-paint them and re-install.