The Zircotec coating is called ThermoHold® for Composites.
The coating is being used in Formula One (F1) racing this year to allow 650°C exhaust gases to be routed through the car’s carbon fibre diffuser. Other applications range from aerospace components to carbon composite cycle wheels.
The coating is applied to a thickness of less than 500 microns by Zircotec, of Abingdon, UK, using a plasma spray process. Carbon composite components can be coated with ceramic, aluminium, stainless steel and molybdenum to protect against temperature, wear or a combination of the two.
The Plastics Industry Awards 2010 are organised by Crain Communications, publisher of European Plastics News.
