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Black coatings
Black coatings
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VANTABLACK TECHNOLOGY

THE DARKEST MATERIAL. THE BRIGHTEST IDEAS.

4 DIMENSIONS OF PERFORMANCE PRODUCE THE VANTABLACK EFFECT

  1. Ultra low total hemispherical reflective (THR) (<0.2%)

  2. Lambertian scattering light evenly in all directions

  3. Extreme broadband performance from UV to THz

  4. Optical performance is maintained across all angles of incidence

​TIMELINE

TOTAL HEMISPHERICAL REFLECTANCE (THR)

Ultra-black coatings are routinely characterised in terms of total hemispherical reflectance (THR). THR describes the fraction of light reflected by a surface, integrated across all angles.

The sample is mounted against a small aperture. Monochromatic light illuminates the sample at fixed angle of incidence. An integrating sphere measures all reflected light and converts this into an electrical signal.​

 

Black coatings

Vantablack® THR <0.2%, less than half the reflectance of its nearest competitor.

BIDIRECTIONAL REFLECTANCE DISTRIBUTION FUNCTION (BRDF)

Many surfaces reflect light through a combination of diffuse and specular components, as seen in the central glossy sphere opposite. It can be useful to separate these contributions.

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Diffuse (or, Lambertian) surfaces reflects light equally in all directions irrespective of viewing angle. For most optical instruments, diffusely scattered stray light sources are the most difficult to control

BRDF Characterises angular dependency of light absorption. Vantablack® has a Lambertian surface with consistent performance at all angles and low specular reflection, ie perfectly diffuse or matt.

WAVELENGTH RANGE OF LIGHT SUPPRESSION

Vantablack has the capability to perform THR characterization across a wide range of wavelengths:

 

UV-Vis-NIR (220 – 1400 nm)

SWIR – FIR (1.4 – 16 µm)

 

This is achieved using spectrophotometers with integrating spheres to capture all reflected light.

 Vantablack® coatings maintain their performance over a wide spectral range. 

DURABILITY

Vantablack coatings are designed to withstand extreme environmental conditions:
 

  • Extreme temperatures as low as 1 K and as high as 573 K 

  • Mechanical shock and vibration (SMC-S-016)

  • ATOX resistance, even in the ram direction 

  • No outgassing, no fogging

  • Vantablack 310 is formulated to be handled and easily cleaned 

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