Ceramic thermal barrier coatings have a multitude of uses where control over heat is concerned.

Corrosion

Alcohol and methanol engines face special challenges when it comes to corrosion.  Coatings using a blend of fluorinated polymers are often used to address the harsh effects of these fuels on piston skirts, bearings and on valve springs.  As with the thermal coatings above, many of these are formulated to provide frictional benefits as well, making them doubly useful.

Other types of anti-corrosive coatings see frequent use in the marine performance field, where the destructive effects of salt water on both iron and aluminum heads and blocks would be otherwise unmanageable.

When considering the use of coatings for any given application, it is, perhaps, most important to know that various coating agents can be blended to produce any number of combined effects.  An expert can combine thermal, frictional and anti-corrosive properties to produce a formula tailor-made to a wide range of potential specifications.  Given the number of engine components that are adversely affected by more than one of these three elements, blended coatings have some of the most intriguing possibilities for creative use.

Professional racing teams make use of a variety of unusual coatings in order to get an edge on the competition in an extremely competitive environment, but it is becoming increasingly common for street rodders and weekend racers to nab a few choice coatings that have the most significant effect on horsepower, or to save cash by extending the lifespan of expensive components that see a lot of wear.  The coatings department at Dart Machinery comprises an important part of the picture when it comes to meeting performance needs for cylinder heads, engine blocks and intake manifolds.  Coatings aren’t traditionally one of the things most closely associated with Dart. In fact, a lot of people don’t even know that Dart has a coatings department.  But if you’re looking to get some extra value out of your performance engine, it’s definitely something worth considering.