Zircotec Ltd., England, has provided its ThermoHold ceramic coating for the exhaust system and a zirconia-based coating for the composite front structure of the British Bloodhound, a car being designed to reach 1000 mph and break the land speed record. Because the exhaust system is a prime source of heat in proximity to the fuel tank, the Bloodhound team specified Zircotec’s ThermoHold ceramic coating. Plasma-sprayed at twice the speed of sound, the coating can reduce surface temperatures by at least 30%, ensuring that the tank remains stable even as heat builds up during the two runs needed for the record to be validated.
Unlike previous record-challenging cars, a large proportion of the Bloodhound front structure is made of composites. Chosen for excellent strength-to-weight ratio, the drawback of composites is poor resistance to heat compared to metallic options. Zircotec proposed ThermoHold for Composites, a zirconia-based coating that is applied at temperatures exceeding 18,000°F, but in such a way that the substrate is not affected.
In addition, the Bloodhound team has chosen Zircoflex, a hybrid aluminum/ceramic heatshield, to be applied at a thickness of just 0.3 mm around any areas of the vehicle where heat must be resisted. “With ZircoFlex, we can bend and mold it to shape. It is lightweight, and with self-adhesive backing, it is good for up to 900°F,” says Tony Parraman of the sponsorship liaison team. “For example, after a two minute run, the internal temp of the jet or rocket might be 5400°F, but the externals are 400°F. We can manage that heat with ZircoFlex protecting wiring looms and composite panels.”
http://www.zircotec.com/news/3/227
