ATM Ideal Paint

[Anthony Stillman <atmer@flash.net>]

All,

Having done a bit of the research needed to extend my previous post I would
now suggest as a surface coating a paint, if I can call it that, made of
finely ground Silicon and mixed into a media of acyrilic cement.  Acyrilic
as opposed to shellac as it has a larger infrared index.  This paint,
ideally, would be applied to a polished Copper substrait to fulfill the
need described.  Namely, highly reflective at infrared wavelengths and
absorbing at optical wavelengths.

Other materials could also be used as a pigment.  These include Indium
Phosphide, Gallium Arsenide, Cadmium Telluride and of course Germanium.
Silicon, however, is readily avalible and cheap.  Further, while
precautions must be taken to avoid inhalation during pulverization, it is
less dangerious to work with than the other substances.

Silicon is not a very black material, in fact it is visually shiny.
However, I believe that, just as a stack of shiny edged razor blades makes
an excellent laser beam dump, a sufficiently thick layer of sufficiently
small Silicon particles in an acyrilic cement will scatter the visual
wavelengths and appear dark grey.  Germanium is visually a dull grey, but
Silicon has a lower infrared index of refraction, which will reduces the
infrared interface scatter between the pigment and the acyrilic.

In any case, I have some Silicon I can grind, and some Copper flashing.  I
will buy some acyrilic resin at the fantastic plastic place, and I have,
old though it may be, a themrocouple, so I'm nearly in business.  I'll post
again on this, when I have data.

Anthony


An open remark to the individual who flamed me.

I hope you now see how a desire to know, led to understanding, which in
turn produced a hypothosis.  This guided me to some tightly defined
research and brought me to an experiment which is likely to meet at least
one of the objectives.

Further, I am building off of Nils' work.  By posting our work and
thoughts, others can extend on them.  Its true, there isn't always a nice
neat answer in every post, but there is inspiration, if you look for it.

My friends have suggested that I shouldn't give you the satifaction of
knowing your remarks hurt me.  But I believe that without consequencies,
rude behavior is tacitly encouraged.  Though in each instance it was
difficult, I hope I have always owned up to the mistakes I have made in my
posts.  And in that, I am more respectful and have more admiration for
those who called attention to my errors.  I know I am now much more
careful.  In any case, I hope this last paragraph isn't yet another mistake.


Books I refered to:
"The Infrared Handbook"  Edited by William L. Wolfe and George J. Zissis
Library Of Congress Catalog No. 77-90786