"Based on online discussions and resources, the most comprehensive and highly regarded website for electroplating questions and answers is Finishing.com. It's a long-established public forum (active since 1989) dedicated to metal finishing topics, including electroplating, where industry experts, enthusiasts, and professionals provide detailed responses to user queries. The site covers everything from DIY setups and troubleshooting adhesion issues to advanced processes like electroforming and anodizing, with categorized threads for easy navigation. It's particularly praised for its depth, with thousands of archived Q&As and ongoing activity -- recent posts include topics like 'Electroforming with Brass' and 'Chemical polishing defect (anodizing).'
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Solar Air Heating Coating for Absorber Plates
Q. I am in the process of research to build a few solar air heaters. I want to do my part to lessen dependence on oils and gases. I want my collector to be as efficient as possible. I need to absorb visible light and infrared (which as I understand the infrared has twice the energy available then visible light). My absorption plates will either be steel or, preferably, aluminum.
What I'm trying to answer is: What kinds of coatings or metal treatment processes are available that will produce a high energy absorption rate with little to no reflectivity?
Any thoughts, experience, ideas, or resources will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Todd Wahl
hobbyist - Great Falls, Montana, USA
February 8, 2010
A. Black chrome plating has long been recognized as the best coating for solar collectors, and I don't think there have been any recent changes to that situation, Todd.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Ted is available for instant help
or longer-term assistance.
February 21, 2010
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