The plasma-sprayed ceramic coating from Zircotec, originally developed for the nuclear industry and currently used in Formula One, classic, performance road and track cars, is going to be used by the British Steam Car Challenge. The Challenge is attempting to bring the world land speed record for steam powered vehicles to the UK by achieving a target speed of over 200 mph.

According to Lynne Angel, director of Steam Car Co. Ltd., the Zircotec coating will “help us to achieve our target by retaining heat by giving us more power and reducing external temperatures.”

The coating greatly reduces the loss of heat, offering enhanced performance and helping to protect components against thermal damage.

"By coating key steam car components, such as the exhaust system, the turbine inlet, internal surfaces of the boiler boxes and heatshields, the British Steam Car Challenge design engineers will experience benefits including gains in process efficiency and improved heat management," says Peter Whyman, Zircotec sales manager

The Steam Car Challenge, which launched in 2004, was conceived with the twofold aim of breaking the land speed record for steam powered vehicles as well as creating excitement in the arena of alternate fuels. It is anticipated that the project will create interest among the next generation of engineers and designers to work toward cleaner and safer forms of transportation, both public and private.

For more information, visitwww.steamcar.co.ukorwww.zircotec.org.