Well, I don't know a thing about Zerbach and his coatings, so I wouldn't
presume to offer an opinion. The Curtiss-Wright testing I mentioned (thin
thermal barrier coating - called "Rokide" if I recall) for HC emission
reduction was very long ago -- done in the late '60s or early '70s at latest.
The rest of my comments were really more based on my following what the
heavy-duty diesel folks had been doing, as we wanted to leverage their
experience on the rotary. Our analysis in the early '90s was that the
coatings had inadequate adhesion and strength to be viable, and that the
efficiency gains seemed small and hard to get because of the other
thermodynamic changes that would occur by keeping the surfaces hot. Perhaps
progress has been made and Zerbach has something worthwhile... I just don't
know. I would be skeptical that improving side housing lubrication would
measurably affect oil temperature.

Jon Lauter
Rotary Power Marine Corporation

 
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