Thermal barrier coatings (TBCs), also sometimes known as refractory coatings, are used across a diverse range of industries to enhance and protect metallic services. In this blog, we’ll explain what thermal barrier coatings are, how they’re used and the benefits of our thermal barrier coating services.
What Are Thermal Barrier Coatings?
A thermal barrier coating is a type of coating that can be applied to metallic surfaces in order to provide thermal insulation. The purpose of TBCs is to shield parts or components from high temperatures and prevent heat transfer. The application of thermal barrier coatings allows surfaces to withstand much higher operating temperatures than they would otherwise be able to.
What Are Thermal Barrier Coatings Used For?
Since thermal barrier coatings enable components to operate under extremely high temperatures, they play a vital role in the insulation process of lots of different metallic surfaces and parts across a wide range of industries.
TBCs have applications in aerospace and defence, manufacturing, the automotive industry, power plants and other industrial settings.
Thermal barrier coatings are most commonly used for gas turbines, for example, in aircraft engines but they have a variety of other applications and can be applied to any metallic surface that will be subject to extremely high temperatures, for example:
- Exhausts
- Turbine blades
- Downpipes
- Aeroengine parts
- Tailpipes
- Ducting
- Shrouds
- Turbochargers
- Nozzles
- Combustors
What Are the Benefits of Thermal Barrier Coating Services?
The application of thermal barrier coatings can be hugely beneficial in a wide array of industries. Here are just some of the advantages TBCs offer:
Protection From Heat Damage
Significantly reducing the temperature of parts protects them from heat damage and thermal expansion, which helps to prevent fatigue, stress and parts failure.
Improved Safety
In many situations, the application of thermal barrier coatings can literally be the difference between life and death, since they prevent overheating of vital parts, keeping heat where it’s needed and preventing transfer of heat to nearby components.
Improved Longevity
TBCs directly increase the lifespan of high-temperature components. By reducing stress on the treated parts, the application of thermal barrier coatings means fewer repairs are needed, reducing maintenance costs and downtime.
More Efficient
Thermal barrier coatings allow for higher operating temperatures without affecting performance or risking damage to parts. This means turbines are able to work more efficiently.
The resulting increase in engine power helps to reduce fuel consumption, leading to lower operating costs and a reduction in harmful emissions.
A Lightweight Insulation Solution
Thermal barrier coatings don’t add significant weight or thickness to parts, which makes them a practical solution, particularly when insulating components for use in aircraft, for example.
Ease of Application
Thermal barrier coatings are applied by quick and easy thermal spraying processes, which allows for them to be used on both new and existing parts with minimal disruption.
Versatility of Application
Since TBCs can be applied to a wide variety of surfaces and parts that are subject to extremely high heat, they are incredibly versatile and useful to many different industries.
Thermal Barrier Coating Services From Alphatek
We hope this has helped to explain the many benefits of our thermal barrier coating services.
Alphatek is a leading independent thermal spray coating specialist with over 120 years of cumulative coating experience, We provide a complete range of metal coating services, including thermal barrier coating, to a diverse array of industries.
To learn more about the services we offer, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can also email us at: postbox@alphatek.co.uk or call us on 01706 821021 to speak to a member of the team.
If you’d prefer to visit us in person, you will find us 20 miles north of Manchester. Please be sure to check our opening times before your visit to Alphatek.
