Thermal barrier coatings for composites & plastics

Zircotec offers a range of thermal barrier coatings that can protect carbon composite, fibreglass and plastics from the effects of heat, allowing lightweight materials to be operated in harsh environments where they might not otherwise be suitable.

Our coatings protect components against radiant heat and hot gas, offer fire resistance, and protect components against delamination and resin melt. They are so effective, they can allow components to survive an exposure to temperatures above their melting point.

The effectiveness of our carbon composite coating is illustrated in our back-to-back flame test demonstration, i.e. with a coated panel of composite tested alongside an un-coated panel. Video>

Zircotec's thermal barrier coatings are already widely adopted in motorsport and are now being used to protect composite materials in the automotive, marine, aerospace, defence and general industrial sectors.

Our coatings consists of a ceramic based thermal barrier layer coupled with a conductive metallic sub-layer. The ceramic layer aims to reduce the transfer of heat to the composite whilst the sub-layer helps to avoid localized hot spots.

We offer a range of coloured finishes for aesthetics and (by sealing the coating surface) they protect the coating from contaminants. Alternatively, when parts are to be exposed to a radiant heat source we offer a reflective metal surface layer, the aim being to avoid radiant heating of the ceramic layer.

In the case of fire, our coatings prevent direct contact with naked flame and thereby increase the time taken for fire to take hold. 

The thermal performance of our coatings has been tested for a range of applications. More>