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Black matte paint for space use

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Q. I am looking for the black matte paint used in optical systems, like the telescope, to absorb the light. It is painted on the metal surface. It should be strong enough to survive the high g vibration without losing particles. I heard that this type of paint has been used in the space based optical system. However, I am not sure who is the manufacturer. Any suggestion will be helpful. Thanks !

Wei Su

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A. I have used a product called Chemglaze, I forget the Manufacturer's name. It comes in white and flat black. If you are looking for a "real" low emissivity coating suitable for space use, try a Martin Marietta coating (similar to anodizing) its called "Martin Black or Martin Marietta Black. We used it for an infrared radiometer used on the EOS AM-1 Spacecraft.

Anthony Ratajczak
- Montreal, Quebec

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A. The Martin Black process IS anodizing. I have been using it for 8 years. It has very low reflectivity from UV to deep IR. There is another antireflective coating called CAT-A-Lac 463-3-8 from Dexter Aerospace Materials (Illinois). I don't have experience with it.

Carlos M. Ruiz
- Dallas Texas

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A. The name of the company that manufactures Chemglaze (now called Aeroglaze) is the Lord Corporation. They are based in Erie Pennsylvania.

Patrick Langan

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RFQ: Could you, please, give me the name of the French distributor for the CHEMGLAZE Z 306.

Thank you for your answer.

Best regards.

Francois GOUTENEGRE
LESCAR, FRANCE

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Ed. note: The Lord Corporation is in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA as noted above, Francois. Please contact them there.
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A. Detailed specification of black paint CHEMGLAZE Z306 is described in ESA PSS-01-725 Issue 1

Rostislav Grygar
Czech Space Research Centre - Brno, Czech Republic

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. A. I believe Lord's Z-line Chemglaze is an aromatic polyurethane used mainly for interior applications. The A-line (i.e. A276) is aliphatic and had a name change from Chemglaze A-xxx to Aeroglaze. It is very good for exterior and space use. I think it meets the NASA outgassing requirements (ASTM E595 [link is to spec at TechStreet]). The white color has good reflectivity and there is a black that is a good absorber. Also, I would be interested in some more info on Martin Black. Have been unable to locate any. Paul C. Kochendorfer - Laguna Hills, California

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Q. I am interested in spray paints for metal surfaces which have a low reflectivity throughout the visible and near / mid-IR ( from 400 nm to 12 microns ).

Does anyway know if Krylon Flat Black [Krylon Spray Enamels 1602 ultra-flat black ] is non-reflective in the near-IR?

Could anyone recommend to me a book or source of data on IR reflectivities of various paints and coatings?

Mark Nelson> - White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico

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Q. I would like to ask the same question Mark Nelson asked. I need a paint with a very low reflectivity value to use on a mounting platform that will be used to mount atmospheric radiation sensors. Could you please tell me if Krylon ultra-flat black will work or if there is a better product.

Todd Schimelfenig
University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Nebraska

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A. The emissivity of Krylon Ultra Flat Black Paint is listed in the web site below as 0.97 at 5 um. I have recently used a 3-5 um InSb radiometric thermal imager to measure the emissivity. I sprayed the paint on a copper plate and mounted it on a cold finger of a variable temperature dewar with a calcium fluoride window. I rotated the dewar window so as to not back reflect. I measured an emissivity of 0.89 for the setup. If we exclude the reflection from the window (~0.04 x 2), this would give an emissivity for the black paint of ~0.97 in agreement with the web site.

http://www.infrared-thermography.com/training.htm

James R. Lindle
Research Physicist - Bowie, Maryland

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June 12, 2008

A. I have been experimenting with infrared coatings for NIR, MidIR and FarIR. In general if the temperature of the item coated is 100 deg C or less the Krylon ultra flat black gives the best most consistent coating, better than many that are specified higher than .97. It is far easier to apply than most other coatings also. Spectral would be from 1 to 16 microns but at longer wavelengths how the coating is applied makes a difference. At surface temperatures above 100 deg C it turns grayish and emissivity drops significantly.

Steven Cook
- Tucson, Arizona

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January 28, 2012 RFQ: Dear Sir/Madam Regarding krylon spray for glassware items, I watch krylon spray in website......I need contact no. with address of dealer of Krylon spray in india. rahul ali - lucknow,uttar pradesh&india   ^- Privately contact this inquirer -^

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A. Re: Flat black paint w/low reflectivity in IR range +

To answer this question....

a. site for paint/material emissivity: electro-optical.com/bb_rad/emissivity/emissivity.htm

b. the best paint for Black body as IR sources is: ALEXIT Velvet coating 811-21 (was 3M Nextel) emissivity of .97, thermal conductive 30 deg.C to 150 deg. C, total emissivity -60 deg. C to 150 deg. C.

Douglas Stone
- San Diego, California, USA

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A. JFYI,

NEXTEL Suede and NEXTEL Velvet coatings are STILL available, not through 3M though.

The distributor for North America is Mankiewicz Coatings LLC.

They have been selling these products under the ALEXIT brand but have recently acquired the rights on the NEXTEL brand name for North America.

Stefan Guenther
- Greenville, South Carolina, USA

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A. I am researching many of the same issues posted here in several questions. There are two important papers you may want to consider, especially if your applications are cryogenic: (1) "The selection of infrared blacks for SIRTF" by St. Claire Dinger, SPIE, Vol. 2260, Stray Radiation in Optical Systems III (1994). (2) "Infrared black paints for room and cryogenic temperatures" by Ungar, Mangin, Lutz, Jeandel & Wyncke, SPIE, Vol 1157, IR Technology XV (1989). I spoke with Martin Marietta in FL and was told they are not interested in applying the Martin anodize process for small external projects. Have not checked Lockmart. Lord Co.'s division in Erie PA sells the Aeroglaze products, and there are other companies (do a quick web search) who will apply it for you if you'd rather not buy large quantities. My experience is that companies sell the rights to these products frequently, so it takes a bit of detective work to locate what you need.

Michelle Creech-Eakman
Caltech - Pasadena, California

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Ed. note: The smart vendors have presence here at finishing.com, where their contact info is always current and imposes no detective work on their potential customers at all

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RFQ: We need high temperature paint in semi glossy black color to be used on tractor mufflers.

ajay bhutani
- new delhi india
  ^- Sorry! This RFQ is outdated -^

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Dear Ajay,

A. You might try Okitsumo, Inc. Their corporate headquarters are in Japan. If you'd like their U.S. phone number, please contact me.

Jake Koch G. J. Nikolas & Co., Inc. Bellwood, Illinois

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A. I think that the best black coating is ZYNOLYTE a paint for Hi-Temp (1200ºFº) the original purpose was to paint stoves or similar, but now is used for all manufacturer of black-bodies, for NASA, Sandia Labs etc. The coefficient is 0,99 and works perfectly in IR, Distributor is Athena Brands Inc Gardnerville Nevada

E. Diez Valero
- Madrid, SPAIN

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Q. I am looking for an infrared absorbing paint (absorption peak should be in the 810 nm region) for coating of wood.

Can anyone advise ?

Carole Helfter
PhD student - Heriot-Watt University - Edinburgh, UK

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A. This page lists 3M optical black as having an Emmisivity of 1.00... I assume since its made by 3m, it should be commercially available from them somewhere, but I have yet to find a source. If anyone can find a source for this paint...

www.infrared-thermography.com/training.htm

"Paint: 3M, black velvet coating 9560 series optical black"

Apparently coatings used in optics, telescopes, laser devices, etc... are the best bet to look for which have been developed for extremely good absorption across a wide spectrum (I assume, precise data on any particular paint would be far preferable as to how it reacted across a large area of the spectrum).

Mark Starr
- Augusta, Georgia

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A. The web site below gives the reflectance spectra of a number of commercially available paints. The emissivity is just 1 minus the reflectance.

http://speclib.jpl.nasa.gov/scripts/lib/asp/ManmadeResp.asp

James R. Lindle
Physicist - Bowie, Maryland

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A. Data on Martin Black and several other black surfaces are given in this author's paper:"Review of black surfaces for space-borne infrared systems" Review of Scientific Instruments, vol 70, no 5 p2193.
3M black hemi-directional, spectral reflectance 2-9 microns is 0.04; 9-20 microns its 0.06.

Merle J. Persky
MIT Lincoln Laboratory - Newton, Massachusetts

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Q. I am student of M tech from surface coating technology,UICT,Matnga,Mumbai, India .I am doing project on IR Reflective Coatings.
Can you refer me to information related IR Reflective Coatings?

Bhupesh Marathe
student - India

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October 15, 2008

Q. Can anyone suggest a black paint which has very high absorption at 1500-1600 nm range and can use at high temperature up to 400 deg C. any suggestion will be highly appreciated

Thanks,

Ginu Rajan
Researcher - Ireland

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August 27, 2009

A. Depending on the Form, fit, function and wave length of the part that has to absorb IR, the processes are various and many. Electrolysis, painting and / or growth. Over the past 15 years I have tested many so with a little more information I might be able to point you in the right direction.

Keith Pieske
- Stockholm, Sweden

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March 24, 2011

RFQ: For an experiment, I am looking for an optical black paint which has a high absorption from UV to IR. I have found several products: Martin Black Velvet, Aeroglaze Z306. Since I am out of north America, could anyone tell where and how to buy these products?

Wei
designer - chengdu, sichuan, china
  ^- Privately contact this inquirer -^

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July 15, 2011

A. Please also consider the following absorber coatings used for space applications from Alion Science and Technology

MH2200

MH21:6N/LO

Joseph Ferguson
- Chicago, Illinois

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October 19, 2011

A. You can try Fractal Black or Black Metal Velvet by Acktar Ltd.

Dina Katsir
- Israel