Team Synergy Coatings: Automotive Coatings for Pistons

Team Synergy Coatings Automotive Coatings Coating the piston reduces friction and wear, reduces part operating temperature, can increase horsepower and torque, reduce or eliminate detonation, allow higher compression ratios to be utilized and allow tighter piston to wall clearances for a better ring seal.

Pistons can be coated with three different systems: Thermal Barriers, Dry Film Lubricants and oil shedding Thermal Dispersant Coatings. These systems can be beneficial on all pistons whether 4-stroke, 2-stroke, gas, alcohol, diesel, reciprocal or rotary.

Thermal Barrier Coatings
TCB-101 or TCB-102 may be applied to pistons. TCB-102 is recommended for all high compression (13:1 and higher), turbo-charged, super-charged or engines running nitrous oxide. TCB-101 should be run on all other engines. Both TCB-101 and TCB-102 insulate the piston against damaging heat transfer by keeping more of the heat generated by combustion as energy to push down on the piston for greater power. By retaining minimal heat on the surface of the piston less heat is transferred to the incoming fuel mixture. (Overheating of the incoming fuel mixture is a leading cause of pre-ignition and early detonation.) The coatings also allow heat at the piston surface to disperse evenly (by reducing hot spots) while reflecting heat back into the chamber for more even distribution. The end result is more efficient combustion of the fuel and since more of the fuel molecules are oxidized less fuel is needed for optimum power. The benefits from using a coated piston include an engine that makes more power, can be run with a leaner air/fuel mix and less initial timing and has less thermal expansion due to a reduction in the heat absorbed.

Dry Film Lubricants
Reduces friction, galling and wear. The lubricants are capable of carrying loads beyond the crush point of the piston. In addition, the lubricants are "fluid retaining" materials that actually hold oil to the surface beyond the pressure where the oil would normally be squeezed off. The ability to carry greater loads, up to 350,000 PSI (2.41316 x 106 kPa), while increasing lubricity (reduced friction) allows tighter piston to wall clearances to be run. This leads to better sealing with no increase in friction.

Thermal Dispersant Coatings
TCD-201 applied to the underside of the piston allow the oil that is splashed onto the piston (to cool it) to shed rapidly. Heat transfers most rapidly when there is a large difference in temperature. The longer oil clings to a hot surface the hotter the oil becomes. By shedding the oil more rapidly, cooler oil is splashed over the surface more frequently. If the oil “hangs” longer, it absorbs less heat and blocks cooler oil from contacting the hot surface. A cooler piston grows less, allowing tighter piston to wall clearances.

Team Synergy Coatings can increase the life and durability of these automotive and engine parts: