Thermal Control Coatings

SolarBlack

Inorganic High Temperature Black Coating

Solar absorption: BOL 0.96, EOL 0.96

Emissivity: BOL 0.8, EOL 0.8

Stable from < −150 °C to > 550 °C

SolarBlack has been extensively tested by ESA and Astrium and is the baseline heatshield coating for ESA’s Solar Orbiter. It will be the first line of defence for the closest man-made object to the Sun. Due to its high emissivity and extremely high solar absorptance, the coating can efficiently absorb incoming solar radiation and re-emit it to the surrounding cold medium of space. It has a unique combination of durability, thermal stability, and electrical conductivity, and contains no volatile organic compounds. 

SolarWhite

Inorganic High Temperature White Coating

Solar absorption: BOL 0.17, EOL 0.20

Emissivity: BOL 0.9, EOL 0.9

Stable from < −150 °C to > 550 °C

SolarWhite is ENBIO’s white thermal control coating with minimal absorption. It has been qualified for the ESA Solar Orbiter mission. Like SolarBlack, it is inorganic and has the durability and thermal stability that this entails. The coating is applied at room temperature and is suitable for aluminium, titanium, stainless steel, and numerous other substrates. SolarWhite’s absorption and emission values are highly stable; the coating is resistant to contamination, and no out-gassing occurs at high temperature.