Formula 1 Ceramic Tech Finding Its Way to the Road

Ceramic composite maker Zircotec has been supplying Formula 1 and prototype teams for a few years, but its materials are starting to find their way onto road cars, granted very expensive ones. Its ceramic material that it calls ThermoHold went from the racetrack to the Aston MartinAston MartinUnited Kingdom, 1914 > present62 models
1872 photos
24 videos
One-77Aston Martin One-77United Kingdom, 2009 > 20125 photos
.

ThermoHold can be used to coat any material that needs to withstand high temperatures. It is applied as a powder to the part and adheres after a 12,000°C plasma jet melts the powder into a coating that is 0.4mm thick. It takes so much power to create the plasma arc, Zircotec has its own electric sub-station on premises. Once applied, it can reduce surface temperatures by as much 125˚C.

One of the materials major success was on the blown diffusers in Formula 1 where exhaust gases were used for an aerodynamic benefit. On the One-77 it was used on the diffuser and engine air intakes.

It has also supplied ThermoHold to KoenigseggKoenigseggSweden, 1994 > present6 models
168 photos
2 videos
, the Ariel Atom V8Ariel Atom V8 RoadUnited Kingdom, 2008 > present3 photos
2 videos
, Aston Martin DBSAston Martin DBSUnited Kingdom, 2007 > present7 photos
1 video
and LamborghiniLamborghiniItaly, 1963 > present32 models
1447 photos
19 videos
. Because Zircotec's coating is proprietary, automakers or race teams ship them the parts to be coated.

“Composites are often unsuited to high temperature environments. Traditionally this leads to vehicle makers opting for more conservative materials that add weight or they rely on bulky heatshields that ultimately blunt performance," said Zircotec’s managing director Terry Graham.