Thermal coatings for automotive parts are in ever-increasing demand, as they provide a level of protection and enhanced safety that manufacturers and drivers covet.
The following is a summary of three of the main types of automotive coatings and their function within the automotive industry.
Dry Film Coatings:
Dry film coatingsare designed to create a permanent lubricated surface to impede galling and the seizing of automotive components. The suggested application process allows the coating to become an intrinsic part of the component rather than a coating on the surface.
Dry film coatings can be applied to:
Piston Skirts
Cylinder Walls
Crankshafts & Camshafts
Bearings & Gears
Valve Stems & Rocket Pivots
Engine Blocks
Oil Pans
Valve Covers
Thermal Barrier Coatings:
Thermal barrier coatingsreduce the heat transfer of automotive components that operate at high temperatures. These coatings are used throughout the automotive, commercial truck, heavy equipment and performance racing industries. Automotive products given thermal barriers coatings increase vehicle performance, reduce maintenance cost and protect against corrosion.
Thermal barrier coatings are most often applied to:
Piston Domes
Combustion Chambers
Valve Faces
Exhaust Systems and Components
Heat Dissipation Coatings:
Heat dissipation coatings, when applied to the surfaces of automotive components, transfer heat away from the substrate, resulting in improved efficiencies, performance and longevity of the coated parts as well as the vehicle. Heat dissipation coatings are ceramic bonded, thermal-conductive coatings that help prevent corrosion and damage related to chemical and solvent attack.
Heat dissipation coatings are used on:
Radiators
Brake Drums
Oil Coolers
Differentials
Transmission Cases
Lighting Equipment
Heat Exchangers
Transmission Coolers
Air Conditioning Condensers
APS Materials provides thermal spray solutions for the automotive industry as well as the biomedical, semiconductor and aerospace industries. Their engineering staff offers more experience in adaptingthermal sprayto the resolution of problems than perhaps any other institution in the community. For example, APS processes can apply and manipulate materials to feature specific surface qualities, such as bio-active/bio-inert, dielectric, semiconducting and thermo-insulating.Materials can be processed in powder, wire and rod form, and can include ceramics, metals and cermets. Precise thicknesses can be achieved through controlled deposition rates and robotically controlled spray parameters ensure concrete bondstrength.
