I wish to fit a metal die-cast locomotive body to a Hornby live steam unit. The big problem is that the live steam super-heater runs at about 350 degrees C and the body material will soften at around 200 degrees C. Is there a high temp silicone that can be cast into the void between the body and the works that will reduce the heat transfer to an acceptable level?. I would make a plug that allows removal of the body therefore the silicone would not be touching the heater body but space is very limited.

None of our silicones or resins will operate at that temperature.

You would realistically need to be looking at some kind of ceramic shield to reduce heat transfer through conduction and some kind of reflective layer over it to reflect radiated heat.

Warren Penalver
Easy Composites / Carbon Mods - Technical Support Assistant

I don't know the actual temperatures but I always use clear silicon sealant on my car exhaust joints. (Not advisable before a catalytic converter due to possibility of contamination.) It lasts much better than any exhaust joint compound I have tried. Particularly if there is any movement of the joint.

Brian.

Post CAT on a normally aspirated or road tune car it will only be a couple hundred degrees celcius at most.

Warren Penalver
Easy Composites / Carbon Mods - Technical Support Assistant