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Does "hardcoat anodize" hinder heat transfer in any way?

I use Hardcoat Anodize is daily applications to improve wear characteristics of machine components. I am considering coating the pistons in a hot rod engine I am rebuilding. One it will tighten up clearances, two it should decrease friction. My concern is heat disipation! Will the pistons run hotter? Can the coating stand up to combustion chamber temperatures?

Jerry Weglinski
design engineer - Orange, Connecticut
January 4, 2008

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Hardcoat anodize is widely used on pots and pans so it can't hinder heat transfer all that much or Callaphon and other high end cookware manufacturers wouldn't rely on hardcoat anodize as their coating of choice. Many racing types put aluminum oxide ceramic coatings on pistons as "thermal barrier coats" to protect the aluminum, however, these are far thicker than typical hardcoat anodize. Given that, I believe hardcoat well suited for your piston application.

Milt Stevenson, Jr.
Syracuse, New York
January 8, 2008