Citation
(2009), "Zircotec at the Science Museum in London", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 56 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/acmm.2009.12856dab.009
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2009, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Zircotec at the Science Museum in London
Article Type: Industrial news From: Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Volume 56, Issue 4
On 11th of March Ron Dennis, CEO and Chairman of McLaren Group, opened a new exhibition at the Science Museum in London called “Fast Forward 20 ways F1 is changing our world” showing how Formula 1 technology is being applied to fields of research and inovation away from the racetrack. Zircotec’s technology for protecting carbon composite from the effects of heat, fire and general wear and tear is one of the 20 innovative technologies featured in the exhibition.
The technology is demonstrated on a set of carbon composite F1 wishbones where part of the surface has been plasma-spray coated with a ceramic based thermal barrier and then over-sprayed with a reflective coating to protect against radiant heat. Zircotec’s technology allows high strength lightweight materials to be used in environments for which they would otherwise be unsuitable. The coating is itself lightweight, thereby avoiding any significant weight impact for the components on which it is used. It in effect becomes part of the underlying structure resulting in an extremely robust coating that will not easily detach. These coatings and their application involve a proprietary Zircotec process for which a patent application has been filed.
The Science Museum has put together the exhibition with the expertise and support of McLaren Marketing Ltd, and the exhibition features the McLaren MP4-21 car built by McLaren Racing for the 2006 season. Ron Dennis, CEO and Chairman of McLaren Group commented “F1 complies with unbelievably high standards delivered under extreme pressures, when the difference between success and failure is measured in a few tenths of a second. Today this incredible engineering asset is available to other fields of research and innovation to the benefit of many people in their everyday lives.” He went on to say that “as Chairman and CEO of the McLaren Group I believe that this expertise can become an example for many of the UK’s hi-tech industries as we aim to ‘power through’ these difficult times in the ascent of recession.”
More information is available from www.zircotec.com