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Automotive news moves fast. Sometimes faster than a Lamborghini supercar, even. Take the Reventon, which by now seems like yesterday's news. But after being revealed back in October 2007, Lamborghini has yet to begin delivering the $1.5 million supercars to their 20 eagerly-awaiting buyers. We would hardly have noticed, waiting for news of one rapped around a pole somewhere, until Lamborghini started announcing the selection of component suppliers for the Reventon.
The latest: coating specialist Zirotec, which will be supplying its Diamond Black coating to the exhaust system on the Reventon. The material was developed for nuclear reactors, and uses zirconia-based ceramics to insulate extreme heat. The coating is plasma-sprayed to the exhaust tubing in order to protect the composite bodywork, and gives the tailpipes a unique black finish. The material is also used in racing cars and on the Koenigsegg CCX. Check the press release after the jump.
[Source: Zirotec]
PRESS RELEASE
Lamborghini Selects New Diamond Black Zircotec Coating for Reventón
DIDCOT, UNITED KINGDOM – June 18, 2008: Leading automotive coating specialist Zircotec has been selected by Automobili Lamborghini to supply a new thermal barrier for its one million Euro Reventón car. Zircotec's plasma-sprayed Diamond Black coating is applied to the exhaust and inhibits heat transfer from the tailpipe protecting heat sensitive components from damage.
"Lamborghini needed a durable solution that protected the composite bodywork and components at the rear of the car," says Zircotec's sales manager Peter Whyman. "Paint finishes were unable to meet the stringent quality and durability requirements set by Lamborghini. Our coating is plasma-sprayed, in effect welding it to the base material, making it more resilient during heat cycling, life testing and abrasion tests. Together with the new black finish, Zircotec was able to deliver not only a highly durable coating but one that satisfied the requirements of Lamborghini's Styling Department". "The Zircotec coating was the only coating that satisfied all our requirements," adds Luca Meschiari, Head of Exhausts at Lamborghini. "It is durable and offers significantly better performance than any other solution we have seen."
Lamborghini is the first application for the Diamond Black surface, for which a patent has been applied for. "Up until now, black was only available using high temperature paints," continues Whyman. "Only using paint is less durable and is therefore not appropriate for OEM applications. We developed this finish as part of an increasing range of individual coatings that can be adjusted to the application and customer requirements. It provides an extremely hard and durable surface that is highly resistant to vibration, mechanical damage and thermal shock."
As packaging restrictions increase, together with a requirement to reduce weight, the Zircotec coating offers OEMs a robust, easily packaged solution that can dramatically inhibit the transfer of heat from exhausts, turbos and catalysts, protecting heat sensitive components. Proven in Formula One and World Rally, Lamborghini joins other prestige vehicle manufacturers and top level motorsport competitors to benefit from a technology that was originally developed for the nuclear industry. "The technology allows OEMs to quickly resolve heat management, even on existing platforms."
Zircotec's zirconia-based ceramics have a thermal efficiency of less than 1.7 W/m K, so provide an excellent thermal barrier. When applied to an exhaust system, the Zircotec coating inhibits the radiation of heat from the surface of the material, holding the heat inside. The coating can also be applied to other metal components including heat shields.
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