Product category:
Materials and components
News Release from: Zircotec | Subject: Zircotec ceramic coating
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 13 November 2007
Ceramic coating chosen for record
attempt
Zircotec's zirconia-based ceramics greatly reduce the loss of heat, offering enhanced performance and helping to protect components against thermal damage.
The plasma-sprayed ceramic coating from Zircotec, originally developed for the nuclear industry and currently used in Formula One, classic, performance road and track cars, is going to be used by the British Steam Car Challenge The Challenge is attempting to bring the world land speed record for steam powered vehicles to the UK by achieving a target speed of over 322km/h
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 15 Aug 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
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When applied to an exhaust system, the Zircotec coating inhibits the radiation of heat from the surface of the material, holding the heat inside.
Ceramic coatings cut heat transfer
Zircotec coated exhaust manifolds transmit significantly less heat to their surroundings than uncoated standard parts.
"We are very pleased that Zircotec will support the Challenge by providing its ceramic coating technology".
"It will help us to achieve our target by retaining heat by giving us more power and reducing external temperatures", says Lynne Angel, Director of Steam Car Company .
The coating greatly reduces the loss of heat, offering enhanced performance and helping to protect components against thermal damage.
Further reading
Ceramic coatings keep cool on the racetrack
Zirconia-based ceramic coating developed for the nuclear energy industry allows motorcycle race mechanics to handle hot exhausts with their bare hands.
Ceramic coating technology hits the streets
Advanced ceramic coatings for exhausts, turbo housings and cam covers are now available for high performance road and track applications, reducing under bonnet temperatures.
"By coating key steam car components, such as the exhaust system, the turbine inlet, internal surfaces of the boiler boxes and heatshields, the British Steam Car Challenge design engineers will experience benefits including gains in process efficiency and improved heat management", says Peter Whyman, Zircotec Sales Manager.
The coating can resist local impacts like minor knocks during maintenance and is neater, more compact and more durable than old-style insulating wraps.
Unlike ceramic paints and coatings applied by other techniques, which can burn off and become brittle, leading to flaking, the Zircotec process is proven to create a highly durable coating in even the harshest applications.
The Steam Car Challenge was conceived with the twofold aim of breaking the land speed record for steam powered vehicles as well as creating excitement in the arena of alternate fuels.
It is anticipated that the project will create interest among the next generation of engineers and designers to work toward cleaner and safer forms of transportation, both public and private.
Zircotec's zirconia-based ceramics have a thermal efficiency of less than 1.7W/mK and provide an excellent thermal barrier.
When applied to an exhaust system, the Zircotec coating inhibits the radiation of heat from the surface of the material, holding the heat inside.
The coating can also be applied to other metal components, including heat shields.
For modern vehicles, the latest development is a coating for carbon fibre panels.
Systems for coating can be sent to Zircotec's technical centre at Harwell, where they will be coated and dispatched within five working days.
A premium two-day service is also offered.
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