Speciality coatings for metal surfaces in extreme environments

Technology abstract

ENBIO, a Dublin-based SME, has developed thermo-optical coatings to withstand extreme temperatures and harsh radiation environments. Their patented application technique yields coatings of 2-150 microns in thickness, preserving fine surface details as well as substrate heat treatment properties. The coatings are suitable for complex or delicate structures, and are VOC-free and inorganic. ENBIO is seeking partners to exploit these high performance coatings in demanding applications.

- Helen Rogerson -

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Three thermo-optical coatings have been developed by ENBIO for space applications:

SolarBlack – selected as the baseline for the main heatshield on the Solar Orbiter

High solar absorptance: αs = BOL 0.93 – EOL 0.94 (Titanium)
High emittance, ε100 °C: BOL 0.74 – EOL 0.76 (Ti at 100 °C)
High thermal stability (-150 °C to 550 °C)
Qualified EUV stability
Typical thickness 2 – 10 microns

SolarWhite – currently undergoing qualification for the Solar Orbiter mission

Low solar absorptance: αs = 0.17 (Ti)
High emittance: ε100 °C = 0.8 (Ti at 100 °C)
High thermal stability (-150 °C to 550 °C)
UV stability
Typical thickness 150 microns

SuperBlack – Designed to improve on SolarBlack’s capabilities, SuperBlack is a ceramic coating that is currently under development by ENBIO

High solar absorptance: αs = BOL 0.97 (Ti)
High emittance, ε100 °C: BOL 0.90 (Ti at 100 °C)
High thermal stability (-150 °C to 550 °C)
UV stability
Typical thickness 60 microns

The coatings, developed in collaboration with ESA and Astrium, are designed to withstand extreme temperatures and high radiation environments while maintaining their thermo-optical properties. The coatings are inorganic and VOC-free and are applied using ENBIO’s patented one-step CoBlast technique.
The CoBlast process is dry, non-toxic (REACH compliant), and is performed at ambient temperature and pressure. The technique achieves excellent coverage and adhesion while preserving complex heat treatment properties of the substrate. Both the coatings and the CoBlast technique can be tailored for specific applications.

Coatings:

Customisable
No heat-affected zone (HAZ)
Suitable for complex and delicate structures, with little mechanical or thermal effect
VOC-free
Robust to AIT activities
Wide thermal stability range
Maintain emissivity values in vacuum environments

Application technique:

One-step (high speed and efficiency)
Ambient temperatures and pressures
‘Green’ process (i.e. low environmental impact)
Customisable
Expanding range of eligible substrates
High level of coating/substrate integration
REACH-compliant with no export restrictions

ENBIO’s SolarBlack coating was developed to withstand the extreme conditions of space and will be used as the baseline for the Solar Orbiter main heatshield. The CoBlast process has been used to apply adhesive primers and fluoropolymers to metal substrates.
Potential domains of applications include:

Oil & gas
Energy
Chemical processing
Adhesive bonding
Hydrophobic coatings

Generated thermal image of Solar Orbiter heat shield reaching 500°C
CoBlast is a one-step, ambient temperature, ambient pressure process that uses conventional grit/micro-blasting equipment to remove a metal's natural oxide layer and replace it with a desired functional coating.
SolarBlack is a thin, highly adherent, black ceramic layer deposited using ENBIO’s CoBlast process.