White Inorganic Coatings for Satellites (WICoSat)

A white coating with low and stable solar absorptance is required for thermal shield applications on the satellite exterior surfaces. White paint has been used with limited performance in extreme space environments such as UV, radiation, adhesion, outgassing, contamination, extreme thermal and operational loads over a 15 yr mission lifetime. Transparent anodising of aluminium alloys is used also with limited performance. Recent trials by Keronite shows, the use of high voltage plasma discharges and unique electrolyte formulations in the Keronite process also allows the formation of optically white coatings on Al-alloys. The proposed study will investigate the feasibility of developing the existing knowledge to create white ceramic coatings with low and stable absorptance value on aluminium alloys and CFRP.