About Zircotec

Formally part of the Atomic Energy Authority, Zircotec's high temperature coating and heat barrier processes and technologies were originally developed for the nuclear industry.

Zircotec's involvement in motorsport stretches back to 1994 when the thermal barrier coating was applied to the exhausts and manifold of Subaru rally cars to lower in-cabin temperatures. Since then the high temperature coating has been applied to vehicles from F1 cars to trucks together with an increasing number of applications for prestigious sports car manufacturers looking for thermal management and heat barrier solutions to manage heat from high performance engines. More recently, Zircotec's ThermoHold™ thermal coatings have been proven to be highly successful in the thermal management of high performance and classic car applications, increasing overall reliability and performance.

The Zircotec Process

The deposition technique uses a carefully optimised high temperature plasma spray coating process carried out either manually or using a robotic system at the business' Harwell technical centre. The surface is first prepared by grit blasting to clean the substrate and give it a key to enhance adherence of the coating, then a special Zircotec bond coat is applied, also using the plasma spray. This is a key stage as the bond coat accommodates the high thermal expansion and contraction that the component will experience in its working cycle, contributing to its exceptional durability. The zirconia thermal barrier coating is then applied, also by high temperature plasma spraying. The resulting high temperature coating is robust and completely maintenance-free, with a life expectancy that is substantially higher than other high performance thermal barriers.

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