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Materials and Coatings
Credit: NASA
Non-Magnetic Absorptive Material for Microwave to Far-Infrared Applications
The electromagnetic properties of the material are engineered by optimizing its complex dielectric function through the volume filling fraction of its components. A low-index polymeric binder, such as thermal polymers and epoxies, serves as the host medium to minimize reflectance in the conductively loaded dielectric media. To ensure thermal compatibility with metal substrates in cryogenic environments, dielectric powders are incorporated to match thermal expansion. Additionally, alumina frit compensates for thermal contraction at cryogenic temperatures, while non-magnetic conductive particles such as bronze, carbon allotropes, and degenerately doped silicon help tailor the material’s dielectric response. To enhance performance, small-particle scatterers reduce heat capacity and limit resonant dispersion, while dirty alloys stabilize resistance under conductive loading. The formulation incorporates reststrahlen materials and supports applications across the microwave to terahertz range, making it suitable for baffles, Lyot stops, and optical terminations, or as a primer for enhancing near-infrared and visible black paints. This high-emissivity, non-magnetic coating is designed for microwave to far-infrared instrumentation in space and cryogenic systems. It also benefits industries producing absorptive epoxies, EMI/EMC shielding, and quantum sensing components. It has reached Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 (component validation in relevant environment) and is now available for patent licensing.
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