Coatings for Solar Energy Equipment & Components

Thermal Spray Technologies offers a range of coatings for use in solar energy applications. Because solar energy equipment is highly specialized, it is important to protect this equipment from potential hazards. Our materials engineering expertise allows us to develop coating solutions that maximize protection and promote peak performance. Our coatings deliver a number of useful benefits, including thermal barriers, EMI/RFI shielding, corrosion resistance, and more.

Corrosion Resistant/Protective Coatings

Zinc, aluminum, zinc-aluminum, and similar materials offer superb galvanic protection against corrosion. Thermal Spray Technologies' corrosion resistant coatings have proven to be far more effective than paints and other solutions for providing long-term protection. Other materials, such as nickel-chromium, cobalt-chromium alloys, and oxide ceramics also provide excellent corrosion resistant/protective properties. Coatings can easily be produced that provide both corrosion resistance and wear resistance.

Dielectric Coatings

Oxide ceramics and other similar coating materials can provide dielectric properties for electronic components. Coatings with dielectric strengths of 1000 volts-per-mil (40 volts-per-micrometer) are routinely produced.

Electrically Conductive Coatings

Different degrees of electrical conductivity can be achieved through various coating materials. Copper, aluminum, and molybdenum are commonly used materials for electrically conductive coatings. For higher temperature applications, materials such as iron-chrome-aluminum, molybdenum-disilicide, and other alloys are often used.

Emissivity Coatings

The materials for emissivity coatings can be specially tailored to meet the needs of a given application. Thermal Spray Technologies uses pure metals, metal alloys, and metal oxides, as well as other materials, for emissive coatings.

Thermal Barrier Coatings

TST offers a variety of ways to protect components through thermal barrier coatings. Partially stabilized zirconium oxide is a very effective, commonly used thermal barrier coating material which can withstand extremely high temperatures.

EMI/RFI Shielding Coatings

Several metallic coatings are available that can provide protection against electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI). Thermal Spray Technologies' EMI/RFI coatings can be deposited onto nearly any substrate material, including plastic, carbon-carbon, and carbon fiber composites.

Absorptive Coatings

As with emissivity coatings, coating materials for absorptive coatings can be selected and specially tailored to meet the needs of any customer application. Thermal Spray Technologies can apply materials such as pure metals, metal alloys, and metal oxides as absorptive coatings.

Reflective Coatings

Reflective coatings in the visible range are often mirrored surfaces, because most applications require specular reflectance. Our thermal spray techniques can be used to create first and second surface reflectors, as well as diffuse reflective surfaces. Pure metals, metal alloys, and, for certain unique applications, ceramics are commonly used materials for reflective coatings.