Thermal coatings and providers

[go-fish]

I have several local powder coating companies that advertise ceramic coatings. My question revolves around types and processes.
I have always thought the coating was a proprietary process that is better left to the big companies like Jet-Hot Coatings. There traditionally hasn’t been many companies that did ceramic but now it seems like every powder coater does ceramic.
Did ceramic become more available? Did a patent expire? Did materials or application/curing equipment become more available?
Final question: Can you trust Joe Blow Powder Coating ceramic coating to be as durable and effective as the more well known traditional ceramic coasters like Jet-Hot?
I’ve got some stainless eBay headers for my 5.9 Jeep I would like done. ZJ Grand Cherokees are notorious for under hood heat and I would like to see if ceramic coating is the real deal.

PS, this is not the 5.9. Just test fitting. The Jeep's 5.9 has a truck pan and I was looking at the clearances to the sides of the pan rails.

 

[mpgmike]

There are different types and grades. Years ago (when I had my speed shop) I used a spray-on coating. I found out that even with meticulous prep work, it would still flake off over time. There is a flame-sprayed version, where the ceramic dust is blown onto the part by a torch flame. I've been told that's the only process (at that time) that holds up well.

On a side note, there are also header wraps that do a better job of heat retention than coatings. I wrapped the stock exhaust header on my '95 ZJ 4.6 stroker.

 

[MMissile]

QC Coatings in Shelby Mi. has the best I've seen. They coat inside and out....and warranty their coatings. Great car guys, and great business. Give Bill a call...
They've done all my ceramic and powder coating, for decades. If it isn't right, it doesn't leave.

Home | QCCOATINGS.com

My latest set of headers and exhaust on Krusty...

`cuda headers

Aspen pro-stock headers

2nd exhaust on wagon

 

[Mattax]

I have several local powder coating companies that advertise ceramic coatings. My question revolves around types and processes.
I have always thought the coating was a proprietary process that is better left to the big companies like Jet-Hot Coatings. There traditionally hasn’t been many companies that did ceramic but now it seems like every powder coater does ceramic.

Marketing. If a little bit of ceramic material is sprinkled in the finish, then they call it a 'ceramic' coating.

True ceramic coatings are applied without a binder. Think of them as being melted onto the metal surface. Common examples are porcelain coated steel products such as bathtubs. Zirconium dioxide is the one most used for headers. AFAIK Swaintech is the only company in the US that is focused on automotive enthusiasts and racers.

Zircotech offers similar but in EU and maybe Aus.
ceramic headers worth it?

Properties of Thermal Barrier Exhaust Coatings - Don Terrill’s Speed-Talk

www.speed-talk.com

Did ceramic become more available? Did a patent expire? Did materials or application/curing equipment become more available?

Marketing. Most all of it is an organic binder with various inorganic particles (in paint they would be simply called pigments). My impression is that binders have developed quite a bit over the past couple of decades. Some are still liquid, some are catalyzed by mixing two components (eg epoxy) or a second coat, and others are applied as powder. Heat curing another part of the process for some. Some of these polymers are probably very good. Some are most certainly better at withstanding header temperatures than others. The challenge for us is th etechnical specs to figuring out which ones, igf properly applied, will hold up to our predicted conditions.

Final question: Can you trust Joe Blow Powder Coating ceramic coating to be as durable and effective as the more well known traditional ceramic coasters like Jet-Hot?

Depends on what Joe blow is using and his process.

I’ve got some stainless eBay headers for my 5.9 Jeep I would like done. ZJ Grand Cherokees are notorious for under hood heat and I would like to see if ceramic coating is the real deal.

Stainless is already about as effective in reducing conduction as most thin coating.