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[April 2005]
Unmanned Air Vehicles Benefit From Ceramic Coating Technology
Apticote Ceramic 2000, the Poeton coating developed for Formula 1 and other motorsport engines, is now being specified for the rotary engines in most of the world's Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs).
The UK has a significant technology lead in this expanding market, which is estimated to be worth around £2 billion a year, with an annual growth rate of 12.5%. The UAV's obvious benefits include no pilot so no risk to life, no constraints on size or design, light weight, and continuous operation for more than 100 hours. Besides military applications, UAVs are also used for agriculture, police surveillance, border control and traffic and weather monitoring.
One of the world's leading suppliers of power units for these craft is UAV Engines Ltd which manufactures a range of lightweight rotary engines covering 20bhp to 120bhp. Due to the unique, patented air-cooled rotor design, rotary engines have an exceptionally high power to weight ratio that makes them more compact, helps to reduce mechanical friction and which lowers fuel consumption.
Apticote Ceramic 2000 is used to add high wear resistance and low friction properties to the trochoidal bores of the rotary engine housings. A plasma sprayed coating of Apticote 80 is also applied to reduce wear in the engine seal tracks. Poeton is also undertaking research and development work on coatings for other engine components.
www.poeton.co.uk
ENDS