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Selective coating for solar absorber

I wish to put a solar absorbing 'selective' type coating on my stainless steel flat plate solar water heater. Is black oxide a good treatment and how is it done?

Chris Lawry
manufacturer - Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
January 14, 2008

Conventional black oxide works fine with carbon steel due to the formation of certain iron oxides. SS is always pre-oxidized naturally with a different type of oxide that is light gray in color (chromium oxide). It will not take a black shade unless you use special formulations.

Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico
January 18, 2008

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