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Clean, Optical Black Finish for Space Telescope

2000

We are designing optical instrumentation for a scientific deep-space mission and are considering constructing one of our miniature telescope tubes of thin walled titanium.

We require an optical black finish with the following properties:

extremely good adhesion, cleanable (scrubbable?)
very low outgassing
very low particulate generation
good quality matte black or darker

Suggestions for black/titanium, titanium-black/copper, titanium-copper-black/nickel or any other candidate finishes will be appreciated. Geometries will be irregular cylindrical tubes 10-15 cm i.d. x 10-30 cm length.

Dr. Don Michels
Washington, DC

When you mention optical spectrum, is it infrared, visible or UV?

Mandar Sunthankar
- Fort Collins, Colorado
2000

I would consider black Ruthenium plating as it has good wear resistance. Ask your supplier for more details.

Sara Michaeli
Tel-Aviv-Yafo, Israel
2000

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