Zircotec recently announced it can offer a specific coating or heatshield tailored to the needs of engineers. ThermoHold® GOLD (for composites) and ZircoFlex® GOLD reportedly provide protection from both conductive and radiant heat sources due to a blend of ceramic insulation and real 24 carat gold, providing 98% reflectivity.
Research conducted by Zircotec on existing “gold” heatshields reportedly found that many did not actually contain gold; these were simply aesthetic finishes with no real improvement in heat reflectivity. Many products were copper-based and, while they were effective when new, the copper quickly oxidized when temperatures exceed 500°C, reducing its ability to reflect heat away. Furthermore, neither of the products tested offered any real protection from conductive heat.