SiCCoat FTI

Thermal spray coatings are extensively used in industry to protect and improving the surface properties of all types of materials and forming a market worth over EUR 6bn per annum. Tungsten carbide (WC) based coatings are widely used for industrial applications but are costly to produce, dense, have poor oxidation resistance, negatively impact the environment and are linked to health issues. Thus, industry requires new, better performing, low cost, non-toxic and sustainable coating materials. To address this challenge, the SiCCoat action coordinator, SERAM has developed ThermaSiC, the first silicon carbide (SiC) based powder that can be applied by thermal spraying to form SiC coatings. SiC is one of the worlds hardest materials (only exceeded by diamond, cubic boron nitride and boron carbide) and possesses lower density than competing solutions such WC. ThermaSiC is based on an invention from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and enables the creation of ceramic coatings with superior wear and corrosion resistance at a substantially lower material and processing costs compared to current available technologies. The objective of the proposed SiCCoat action is to test, demonstrate and validate ThermaSiC for creating SIC coating with potential users, thermal sprayer shops, to prepare for commercial roll-out and demonstrate the performance of the coatings by creating and testing an automotive demonstrator component - SiC coated brake discs. SiCCoat will bring SERAMs disruptive technology to industrial readiness representing a significant step beyond the current state-of-the-art with a major commercial potential that will aid SERAM attain a position as market and technology leader in the EUR 1.58bn market for thermal spray materials and results in a very positive environmental impact and job growth in Europe