Hi guys and list:
O.K. I'll share with you all some things about coatings. It might get
kind of lengthy, so I'll do it in installments and remember, you can
always use your delete button. (This is not an advertisement - only to
inform the landspeed racer about how coatings can help them - pros and
cons).
Also, Joe, thanks for the kind words and yes, Lona is a great lady -
like Keith's Miss Kathy. She keeps me "somewhat" in line. She's also my
best friend and business partner.
I'll start this with Header Coatings because I'm sure most everyone
knows about them.
18 - 20 years ago two companies, Jet Hot and H.P.C. (High Performance
Coatings) introduced ceramic coatings to the hot rod world. These
coatings were originally developed for the aerospace industry. Anyway,
for about 6-8 years Jet Hot and HPC were the only two places to get
headers coated and they both have good products. Their coatings are not
exactly the same as they each have their own formulas, but both
company's formulas for their ceramic metallic coatings are certified by
NASA for turbine jet engine use - as is ours. Now there are about twenty
different small companies through out the United States doing header and
exhaust coatings. Other than Jet Hot and HPC I think only about two or
three other companies make their own ceramic coatings. Most buy their
products from coating manufactures. I think there are three main
manufacturers of raw product in the US. They are all good, (but we feel
that one manufacturer of coatings is far above the rest).
What we don't formulate ourselves, we purchase from them. Even some of
what we purchase, we re formulate.
The silver coating (ceramic metallic coating) that is so popular is good
to around 1300 degrees fahrenheit - no matter who makes it. The reason
it can be polished to a hugh luster is because it has a high amount of
aluminum in it. Its the aluminum that is being polished. Also, the
aluminum is what starts to break down at around 1300 degrees and the
shine starts to dull out. At around 1400 degrees, the aluminum will
start to break down the ceramic and the coating comes off.
The ceramic metallic coating is a very good rust inhibitor and also, a
good thermal barrier. But it is only as good as the preparation that is
done to the header or other parts. There are some on this list that
have had more than one company do coatings for them and can tell you
first hand about how their products work.
About 7 years ago Marlo Treit came to us with some problems on their
Lakester and asked us if we could help him. He would be needing some
extremely high thermal barrier coatings for his new streamliner. I've
had the pleasure of knowing Marlo for over 40 years and knew that he was
very serious about what he needed. Also, three years ago Skip Hedrich
approached me about some of the same problems and needs as Marlo's. To
make a long story shorter, we have developed ceramic coatings that are
so good that you can touch headers on a running motor and not burn your
hands. We developed the only ceramic thermal barrier coating that can be
applied to fiberglass, carbon fiber, kevelar and some plastics. This
coating is so good you can apply a direct flame of up to 900 degrees to
fiberglass, etc. for hours and it will not burn. No one else has these
coatings. We have patented them and the procedures for applying them.
They were developed for the land speed racing community. Skip Hedrick's
body panels and chute tubes lay right against the headers and pipes and
show no signs of ever getting hot after being coated with these
coatings.
One more thing I'll mention now...why I detest heat wrap. The idea is
good but in reality it's junk. First of all, it absorbs the moisture it
creates in condensation from heating up and cooling down in different
atmospheric and humidity conditions. When it cools down, it shrinks the
pipe down and will actually, in time, go right through a piece of
tubing. If you have ever tied a piece of wet leather around your wrist
and let it dry and do it over and over it will eventually cut your wrist
off. The next thing is that it soaks up oil like a sponge and never
dries out. What happens when you have enough "oil downs" and eventually
the wrapped headers are soaked with so much oil or fuel that when the
headers get hot enough ...Boom!! Instant fire. More than one car fire
has been caused by using heat wrap. (are you reading this Keith - think
about why I asked you this question) Anyway, this is all for now.
I hope it wasn't too boring. In a couple of days, if you want, I'll
share with you about engine coatings.
Russ Meeks
#902 M.R.
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