A coating that enables engineers to specify lighter weight carbon composite materials for harsh applications in arduous environments has won the prestigious 2010 Plastic Industry Best Technology Application of the Year Award. Zircotec's plasma-sprayed zirconia-based coating protects composites from the effects of heat and abrasion in tough operating environments, opening up a new stream of materials to designers that offer performance with a weight advantage. Branded ThermoHold for Composites, the Zircotec coating is being successfully used in Formula 1 this year to allow 650°C exhaust gases to be routed through the car's carbon fiber diffuser, but is increasingly finding applications in a broad range of other sectors from aerospace to carbon composite cycle wheels where it is used as a high performance braking surface.