The
new lightweight Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera is the
latest Lamborghini to use Zircotec’s advanced ceramic
heat resistant coatings on its tailpipe assemblies.
Using a Diamond Black ceramic to keep heat inside the
exhaust, allows Lamborghini to adopt more lightweight
composite bodywork that contributes to the 70 kg weight
saving.
Developed specifically for Lamborghini, the Diamond
Black ceramic is applied to the exhaust at temperatures
over 12,000°C using plasma spraying. This process
ensures the ceramic is extremely durable, offering an
aesthetically-pleasing finish that will outlast paint or
untreated metals. “Zircotec’s technology not only
protects sensitive composite finishes but also the
exhaust itself,” says Zircotec’s sales director Peter
Whyman. “Corroded or flaking exhaust finishes ruin the
appearance of the rear of the car. Our technology
ensures Lamborghini’s latest car will continue to look
good for many years.”
The
durable coating was tested to ensure that it met the
rigorous requirements set down by Lamborghini.
“Zircotec’s coating met the lifetime and temperature
cycling tests set by Lamborghini including rapid cycling
in temperature and pressure washing,” says Whyman. “The
combination of our application method that effectively
welds the ceramic to the exhaust, the proprietary
ThermoHold bond coat and the unique Diamond Black
material make our coating viable for OEM applications.”
The
Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera follows the highly
successful application of Zircotec’s thermal barriers on
the Reventón and Murciélago LP640 supercars, where the
use of the coating delivered both weight reductions
through the removal of heatshields and added protection
for the composites. For the latest Gallardo LP 570-4
Superleggera, the coating allowed Lamborghini’s
designers to specify carbon fibre for the diffuser
venturi and upper element that surrounds the new quad
tailpipe system. “Our zirconia-based coatings are used
in F1 applications to protect delicate composite
bodywork and suspension parts,” adds Whyman. “This is a
good example of technology transfer from the track to
the road."
