User club to advance low toxicity ceramic coating

Designers of aero engines and industrial gas turbines need to know if high temperature materials are working close to their maximum temperature capabilities.

Thermochromic paints can help with this process because, if applied correctly, they give an inspector a visual indication of temperature contour patterns on that engine part.

Legislation, however, is set to greatly restrict the use of thermal paints that contain chromate and Pigment Red, substances deemed toxic under the EU’s REACH regulations.

Dr Jörg Feist, managing director of Sensor Coating Systems (SCS) is confident that his company’s Thermal History Coating (THC) - shortlisted in 2011 for The Engineer’s Technology & Innovation Awards - will fill the gap and simultaneously bring about efficiency gains.

‘Thermal paints are being used in the design process for more energy efficient gas turbines,’ explained Feist via email. ‘However, using the thermal paints is not just toxic, but very laborious and a failed paint test for a component can easily be worth, for example, £25,000 when the paint comes off or when the paint is used a few minutes longer than anticipated. The readout time after a successful test is also very time consuming. Our technology will be faster and more robust.’