We need to understand what is happening in the relationship between Steel headers and the coatings in the microscopic level. I will try to explain as simply I my limited skills will allow.
Steel expands with heat. The rate of expantion is directly proportional to tempture. That means that near the head is hotter than at the collector and therefore the metal is expanding more at the head than at the collector.
If the coating is harder( I use harder for lack of a better word but like ceramic) than the steel, then what happens is it fractures as the steel expands, leaving microscopic cracks in the coating which allows moisture to get in and you know the rest.
Asking any coating to go through that kind of thermal expantion and be able to match the exact rate of the steel is a very tall order. Now I'am not a chemist, but I have worked with metals in industral applications and can say this, even the big boys accept this fact and just try to keep it painted or let it rust and replace it when it is no longer servicable. I only posted this to help you think about things before you spend the hard earned bucks for fancy stuff that can only delay the enivtable. I mean I can buy 2-3 sets of plain ole headers for the price of the fancy ones that the coating won't help the usual speed bump dents and other damage that headers usually endure.
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Harley
69 461 El Camino Nitrous Model
69 Chevelle coupe
71 SS Camaro
75 L-82 Corvette
71 Gremlin X
Kerrville,Tx.
Steel expands with heat. The rate of expantion is directly proportional to tempture. That means that near the head is hotter than at the collector and therefore the metal is expanding more at the head than at the collector.
If the coating is harder( I use harder for lack of a better word but like ceramic) than the steel, then what happens is it fractures as the steel expands, leaving microscopic cracks in the coating which allows moisture to get in and you know the rest.
Asking any coating to go through that kind of thermal expantion and be able to match the exact rate of the steel is a very tall order. Now I'am not a chemist, but I have worked with metals in industral applications and can say this, even the big boys accept this fact and just try to keep it painted or let it rust and replace it when it is no longer servicable. I only posted this to help you think about things before you spend the hard earned bucks for fancy stuff that can only delay the enivtable. I mean I can buy 2-3 sets of plain ole headers for the price of the fancy ones that the coating won't help the usual speed bump dents and other damage that headers usually endure.
------------------
Harley
69 461 El Camino Nitrous Model
69 Chevelle coupe
71 SS Camaro
75 L-82 Corvette
71 Gremlin X
Kerrville,Tx.