Abstract: An internal combustion engine including a low thermal capacity, low thermal conductivity insulating liner is provided. The insulating liner may be positioned to line the combustion chamber and a portion of the cylinder wall. The insulating liner may comprise a high aspect morphology sintered ceramic material and may further include a surface coating. The internal combustion engine may be a four-stroke diesel engine with variable valve timing operating using an asymmetric cycle. Through the asymmetric cycle and insulative properties of the insulating liner, the heat loss of the disclosed internal combustion engine is significantly less than that of a similar conventional internal combustion engine, resulting in significant efficiency improvements.

Abstract: A method of providing a ceramic coating on a substrate, for example of aluminum, where a slurry of a zirconium compound such as zirconia and a silicate such as potassium silicate is coated on a substrate and cured at a temperature not exceeding 500.degree. F.