Press Release - Zircotec to supply British Steam Car Challenge with advanced ceramic coating technology
Press Release Zircotec to supply British Steam Car Challenge with advanced ceramic coating technology UK team set to break world land speed steam car record will use high-technology ceramic coating to improve thermal efficiency of the drivetrain system. 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 200 mph. "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 Ltd. The coating greatly reduces the loss of heat, offering enhanced performance and helping to protect components against thermal damage. "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 British Steam Car Challenge The Steam Car Challenge, which launched in 2004, 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. <http://www.steamcar.co.uk/> www.steamcar.co.uk The Zircotec process Zircotec's zirconia-based ceramics have a thermal efficiency of less than 1.7 W/m K, so 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. Call 01235 434326 to discuss specific applications. <http://www.zircotec.org/> www.zircotec.org Press Enquiries Nick Bailey, Market Engineering North Bar House, 43-44 North Bar, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX16 0TH. +44 (0)1295 277050 nick.bailey@m-eng.com Sales Enquiries Peter Whyman, sales manager, Zircotec Building 528.10, Rutherford Avenue, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, OX11 0QJ, United Kingdom +44 (0)1235 434326 enquiries@zircotec.org.uk Photographs Pictures are available electronically from the press agent or can be downloaded from www.autopresspoint.com <http://www.autopresspoint.com/> By coating key 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 significant benefits from the reduced heat loss. 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 plasma-sprayed ceramic coating from Zircotec, originally developed for the nuclear industry and currently used on Formula One, classic road and track cars components, such as exhaust manifolds. ZIR5214 061107 Prepared by Market Engineering, Europe's leading communications agency for the automotive technology industry.