Zircotec's ceramic coating

Zircotec’s ThermoHold ceramic technology is to be used in the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race, to improve the durability of vessels’ winches over the course of the 39nm competition.

Known as the ‘Everest of Sailing’ the Volvo Ocean Race is one of the most gruelling and challenging tests of sailing endurance, pushing both the competitors and their equipment to the limit. Zircotec’s ceramic coating will minimise wear, allowing the crews to use harder and smaller ropes without impacting negatively upon durability. The nature of the coating also ensures that the winches can be rapidly resurfaced if required.

The coating itself has been tested in temperatures ranging from -5 to +40 degrees Celsius and under constant exposure to salt water. The result is excellent adhesion to the underlying substrate, regardless of its composition. This property is of crucial importance when using hard, small ropes, which place a great strain on the surface contact area. The coating is then applied via plasma-spraying, the same process used inside nuclear reactors.

“Aluminium winches typically found on this class of yacht display a rough finish to enhance grip and friction,” said Lou Varney, managing director of Diverse Yachts. “This surface is rapidly worn away, leading to poorer performance and a safety risk. One solution is to refurbish them but this takes time and is expensive. We think that the Zircotec ceramic coating will solve these issues even in the harshest ocean race environment. Carbon composite materials are also used in this series, though these provide limited grip, are easily worn and are not easily refurbished. Zircotec can apply its ThermoHold coating to composite winches, even used winches, and in this case the coating provides a very significant improvement to both grip and friction. The Volvo race offers the ultimate test for these products.”

Read more on ceramics and the innovative ways it is used in the next issue of SuperyachtDesign Q8, out in September!

Related Links:
Zircotec - company website
Volvo Ocean Race - company website

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