Abstract: A space-stable thin film composite coating is provided that exhibits high IR emittance properties similar to OSR mirrors, and which is thin enough to be applied to a flexible substrate. The composite coating can include hundreds of alternating layers of aluminum oxide and silicon dioxide vacuum deposited to individual layer thickness of about 150 Angstroms and 50 Angstroms, respectively. The composite coating can be attached to substrates having complex geometries, for example, at various points during integration and production of hardware. The thin film can increase thermal design efficiency, reduce radiator mass and costs, and reduce production time-frames by eliminating the complexity of OSR mirror bonding.

Abstract: A method of making a multi-layer coating on a substrate is provided and involves applying a mirror coating to a substrate then spraying a silicate topcoat onto the mirror coating. Applying the mirror coating can involve applying a reflective material to the substrate to form a reflective layer and applying an oxide layer to the reflective layer to form the mirror coating. The oxide layer can be made of one or more oxide layers, and each of the one or more oxide layers can include aluminum oxide, silicon oxide, or a combination thereof. The multi-layer coating provides increased IR emittance and decreased solar absorptance relative to conventional thermal control coatings.

Abstract: A method of making a thermal control coating is provided. A primer layer can be applied to a substrate to form an exposed surface. The primer layer can include an epoxy binder and a silica filler. The exposed surface can be treated with an oxygen plasma to form a treated surface. A silicate-based thermal control coating can be applied to the treated surface, for example, by spraying, to form a thermal control coating on the substrate. Spacecraft and spacecraft hardware components coated with the thermal control coating, are also provided.

Abstract: A laminate has a composite coating on a substrate. The substrate is a polymeric substrate with a surface resistivity of 4×102 to 1×108?/?; or a textured substrate with surface features which are 100 nm to 10 microns high. The composite coating comprising a tie layer of a nickel-chromium alloy; a layer of a reflective metal; a layer of aluminum oxide; a layer of silicon oxide; and optionally a layer of indium tin oxide. The laminate has a solar absorbance at a wavelength of 0.25 microns to 2.5 microns of between 0.07 and 0.7; and the laminate has an IR emittance of 0.1 to 0.8. Solar absorbance and IR emittance of the laminate may be independently to control the ratio of solar absorbance to IR emittance. Solar absorbance may be adjusted by changing the surface resistance or degree of texturing on the substrate. IR emittance may be adjusted by changing oxide film thickness.

Abstract: A black molecular adsorber coating (MAC-B) composition is provided that exhibits adsorptive capabilities and reduces the effects of optical path degradation and system performance degradation when formed into a black coating having low reflectivity. The coating can be used in stray light control applications or within light paths between optical systems to absorb light and reduce the effects of optical path degradation. The coating can be used in vacuum systems to adsorb molecular contaminants and to reduce vacuum pressure levels. The coating composition can be sprayed onto interior surfaces, such as optical cavities of cameras, telescopes, lasers, baffles, detectors systems, and electronics boxes to control performance degradation due to outgassed molecular contaminants.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, composition and method employing a dust mitigation coating that also mitigates or repels water, ice, and other liquids. Techniques to coat the surfaces of equipment and items with these dust, liquid, and ice mitigation coatings, minimizing or eliminating mission problems caused by dust, liquid, or ice accumulation, particularly in outer space or on another planetary body or moon. Further, the dust mitigation coatings should exhibit a Lotus-like effect, making the coated surfaces ultra-hydrophobic. The present invention is also directed to techniques for improving the functioning of terrestrial-based equipment and systems where dust, liquid, or ice accumulation is a problem, such as in hospitals and other health contexts to prevent contamination.

Abstract: A method of producing a modification of pigments using atomic layer deposition (ALD) in varying electrical resistivity. More specifically, ALD may be used to encapsulate pigment particles with controlled thicknesses of a conductive layer, such as indium tin oxide (ITO). ALD may allow films to be theoretically grown one atom at a time, providing angstrom-level thickness control.

Abstract: A black molecular adsorber coating (MAC-B) composition is provided that exhibits adsorptive capabilities and reduces the effects of optical path degradation and system performance degradation when formed into a black coating having low reflectivity. The coating can be used in stray light control applications or within light paths between optical systems to absorb light and reduce the effects of optical path degradation. The coating can be used in vacuum systems to adsorb molecular contaminants and to reduce vacuum pressure levels. The coating composition can be sprayed onto interior surfaces, such as optical cavities of cameras, telescopes, lasers, baffles, detectors systems, and electronics boxes to control performance degradation due to outgassed molecular contaminants.

Abstract: A molecular adsorber coating for collecting and retaining outgassed molecular effluent may include a mass fraction of about 0.20 to about 0.40 of zeolite, a mass fraction of about 0.40 to about 0.80 of a binder, and a mass fraction of about 0.0 to about 0.30 of water. The mass ratio of the binder to the zeolite may be in a range of about 1.6 to about 2.4. The binder may comprise, on a mass basis, about 30 to about 40 percent particles of nonporous silica dispersed in a liquid phase.

Abstract: A metal substrate such as bare or anodized aluminum or an aluminum alloy having an inorganic white paint thermal control coating on the substrate, the coating having low solar absorptance and high infrared emittance, such as a potassium silicate binder having zinc oxide particles distributed therein, and a fluoropolymer topcoat such as polytetrafluoroethylene on the inorganic white coating, the topcoat having substantially no significant effect on the optical properties of the thermal control coating and having substantial adhesion to such coating and improved resistance to darkening under ultraviolet exposure in the outer space environment.

Abstract: An article is coated with a mixture of a high absorptance pigment, a low absorptance pigment, a low emittance material, and a high emittance binder. Each of the components of the coating are stable when exposed to a space environment. The amounts of the high absorptance pigment and the low absorptance pigment are selected to produce an absorptance of the coating of from about 0.20 to about 0.90, and the amount of the low emittance material is selected to produce an emittance of the coating of from about 0.25 to about 0.90. The low absorptance pigment is preferably a white pigment such as zinc oxide. The high absorptance pigment is preferably a black pigment such as cupric oxide, cobalt oxide, or manganese dioxide. The low emittance material is preferably a metal such as aluminum. The binder is preferably a ceramic such as potassium silicate.

Abstract: A metal substrate such as bare or anodized aluminum or an aluminum alloy having an inorganic white paint thermal control coating on the substrate, said coating having low solar absorptance and high infrared emittance, such as a potassium silicate binder having zinc oxide particles distributed therein, and a fluoropolymer topcoat such as polytetrafluoroethylene on the inorganic white coating, the topcoat having substantially no significant effect on the optical properties of the thermal control coating and having substantial adhesion to such coating and improved resistance to darkening under ultraviolet exposure in the outer space environment.

Abstract: A metal substrate such as aluminum or an alloy thereof having an ultraviolet sensitive thermal control coating on the substrate such as an anodic coating or a white thermal control paint coating, and an ultraviolet degradation protective coating on the thermal control coating. The ultraviolet degradation protective coating can be an ultraviolet absorber such as quartz or an ultraviolet reflector such as aluminum oxide.