Cryogenic emissivity properties of Ball

Infrared Black
Cite as: AIP Conference Proceedings 1434, 1497 (2012); https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4707078
Published Online: 12 June 2012

Randy Franck and Michael Renbarger

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AIP Conference Proceedings 1434, 1497 (2012); https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4707078 1434, 1497

© 2012 American Institute of Physics.

CRYOGENIC EMISSIVITY PROPERTIES OF BALL
INFRARED BLACK

R.A. Franck, M. Renbarger

Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp.

Boulder, CO, 80303, USA

ABSTRACT

Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corporation (BATC) developed a unique thermal

control coating named Ball InfraRed BlackTM (BIRBTM). The coating generates a highly
diffuse surface with a large effective surface area ideal for thermal radiative applications.
Independent testing demonstrates excellent emissivity properties across the cryogenic
region, especially at temperatures <50K where other products tend to roll off. Emissivity in
this region exceeds that of other commercially available thermal control coatings. The
proprietary coating was developed for use on spacecraft thermal radiators, but also has
application to terrestrial cryogenic and vacuum systems. The coating is qualified for
spaceflight, demonstrating outstanding adhesion after thermal cycling and vibration testing.
Critical material properties for BIRBTM are characterized. BIRBTM is durable and cleanable
with proper handling. BIRBTM has the additional benefit of being static-dissipative, making
it ideal for direct exposure to the space environment. Additionally, contamination control
properties are optimized, achieving low total outgassing rates and demonstrating particle
cleanliness to meet stringent requirements for optical instruments. Thermal systems realize
enhanced performance and/or substantial mass savings by applying BIRBTM to the radiator
surface. To date, BIRBTM has been applied to several large cryogenic radiators for use on
space-based thermal control systems.

KEYWORDS: Radiator, paint, coating, emissivity, emittance, space, optical, stray

light.

OVERVIEW

Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp. (BATC) has developed a new proprietary
thermal control coating, named Ball InfraRed Black (BIRB). The product is unique to the
aerospace industry for its unsurpassed thermal emissivity at deep cryogenic temperatures.
Advances in Cryogenic Engineering
AIP Conf. Proc. 1434, 1497-1504 (2012); doi: 10.1063/1.4707078
© 2012 American Institute of Physics 978-0-7354-1020-6/$0.00

1497
Initially developed for use on cryogenic space telescopes by BATC, BIRBTM is fully
qualified for use on spacecraft in earth-orbiting environments and for programs with targets
beyond the reaches of earth orbit. The product possesses a unique set of material properties
which make it an attractive solution for a range of aerospace and terrestrial applications. Its
high surface area and open morphology renders it ideal for stray light control in optical
systems as well.
In independent tests performed at NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center (GSFC),
BIRBTM demonstrated a thermal emissivity at <50º Kelvin (K) (-223ºC) superior to that of
the next best coating currently available on the market. The coating is vacuum compatible,
clean, cleanable, and durable. It demonstrates outstanding adhesion across a temperature
range from 25K (-248ºC) to 398K (125ºC). Qualified on flat aluminum substrates, it is
ideal for optimizing the performance of cryogenic thermal radiators for space or vacuum
applications. The application process is scalable and applicable to alternate substrate
materials such as stainless steel, titanium, and structural composites.
Ball Aerospace developed BIRBTM over the past decade and has qualified it to fly on a
prominent NASA space observatory program currently under development. BIRBTM is
specified as the thermal control coating applied by BATC to several large cryogenic
radiator assemblies, totaling 20m2 in radiative surface area, which serve to passively cool
the instrument suite and optical path of the telescope to temperatures below 40K (-233ºC).
The coating has been qualified to withstand both the launch environment and subsequent
exposure to the harsh space environment for a five year mission in solar orbit at the second
LaGrange point (L2) beyond the orbit of the Earth. The use of BIRBTM dramatically
increases the radiator efficiency, thereby reducing the required surface area, as well as
mass and structural requirements of the system.

BIRBTM MORPHOLOGY

BIRBTM derives its unique suite of physical and thermal properties from its open
morphology and its high surface area. The coating, as illustrated in FIGURE 1, is
intentionally applied to a nominal thickness of 0.040” which creates an interlocking matrix
that provides a vast surface area for emitting thermal energy.

FIGURE 1. SEM micrograph of BIRBTM coating reveals its unique morphology and extremely high surface
area.

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The surface can be damaged by direct contact, but is strong enough to hold up to cleaning
via solvent rinsing. This characteristic sets BIRBTM apart from other competitive products
which do not hold up to normal aerospace handling. This ruggedness provides a key
advantage for spacecraft applications which can become contaminated during integration
and test operations. Post-application processing of the BIRBTM coating renders it
essentially free of self-shedding particles. This advantage optimizes BIRBTM for
applications in direct line of sight of particle-sensitive optics. Additionally, BIRB’s open
morphology provides an added benefit of excellent stray-light control in optical systems.

BIRBTM THERMAL-OPTICAL PROPERTIES

The Spacecraft Thermal Control Handbook [1] classifies BIRBTM as a black, high-
emissivity, high solar absorptivity thermal control coating. BIRBTM, however, is designed
uniquely to maximize thermal emissivity at cryogenic temperatures. Most optically black
coatings display high thermal emissive properties, in excess of 0.9, at temperatures near
ambient. As these coating reach demanding temperatures below 100K (-173ºC), however,
their thermal emissivity degrades significantly. The basis for this thermal performance
degradation is related to the coating interaction with the infrared radiation it is emitting. As
the temperature gets colder, the characteristic wavelength emitted increases. When the
wavelength emitted is similar to the surface roughness of the coating, the emittance from
that surface decreases dramatically. In contrast, the open-morphology of BIRBTM allows
the coating to retain high thermal emissivity even at the low temperature practical limits for
cryogenic radiators.
It is difficult to accurately measure total hemispherical emissivity for black surfaces
at deep cryogenic temperatures. Low emitted power, chamber reflections and actual
thermal mass knowledge are some of the challenges to such tests. GSFC has provided most
of the testing for BIRBTM cryogenic emissivity. Historical measurements have been
performed using a calorimetric facility which relates the transient response of the sample in
a cryogenic environment to determining emissivity as a function of temperature [2]. The
calorimetric based curve for BIRBTM is shown in FIGURE 2. Note the increasing
uncertainty with decreasing temperature. Steady state tests have also been performed. A
survey of different surface samples was simultaneously tested in a steady state test in 2005,
FIGURE 3 [3].

New BIRB (Ball IR Black)

1.0
0.9
Hemispherical Emittance

0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0
0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 275 300 325

Temperature (°K)
FIGURE 2. Calorimetric emissivity test data for 4.83E-4m (19mils) nominal thickness BIRBTM with error
bars.

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 The steady state tests showed that BIRBTM coating is about 45% more efficient at
rejecting heat at deep cryogenic temperatures when compared to the next best thermal
control coating tested. This data also shows BIRBTM has a slight advantage over competing
products in thermal emissivity at temperatures down to 100K (-173ºC). Below 100K (-
173ºC), the curves for other thermal control coatings decline dramatically. BIRBTM
however, maintains a higher emissivity into the deep cryogenic region, while most others
have degraded to half of their room temperature emissivity. This superior cryogenic
performance has also been demonstrated by on-orbit performance of the Spitzer Space
Telescope which estimates the emissivity to 0.83 +/- 0.04 at 34 K3. A curve representing
conservative emissivity values for BIRBTM versus temperatures is presented in FIGURE 4.
This curve is recommended for preliminary design calculations. At this time, new
cryogenic emissivity test methodologies are being employed at GSFC on samples coated
with BIRBTM that are designed to further reduce the error associated with historical testing.
The higher emissivity associated with BIRBTM can be used to improve thermal
performance and/or reduce the required radiating area of the system, resulting in significant
mass reduction for the thermal control system. Mass allocation reductions for thermal
radiators allows for optimization in system designs, bringing about increased system
performance, and minimizing spacecraft costs. Similarly, terrestrial cryogenic vacuum
systems can derive benefits from BIRBTM, by increasing thermal efficiencies and radiative
coupling to reject heat from the cryogenic system. Typical sources for parasitic heat in
vacuum and space applications include thermal conduction from warmer parts of the
system, warm radiative environments, and self-generated heat from detectors and
associated electronics.

1.0
0.9
0.8
Hemispherical Emittance

0.7
0.6
0.5
Test 2 - Sample 1- Z306 Black
0.4 Test2 - Sample 3 - Black Kapton (BF548 adhesive)
Test 2 - Sample 4 - Ball IR Black
Test 2 - Sample 5 - S13 White Paint
0.3 Test 2 - Sample 6 - Type 2 Black Anodize
Test 1 - Sample 5 - M55J / T300 out
0.2
20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Temperature (K)
FIGURE 3. A comparison of cryogenic thermal emissivity values from steady state testing displays the
superiority of BIRB [4].

1500
 0.94

0.92

0.9

0.88

Emissivity 0.86

0.84

0.82

0.8
0 50 100 150 200 250 300

Temperature (K)
FIGURE 4. This cryogenic emittance curve is recommended when designing cryogenic radiators using
BIRB.

BIRBTM STRAY LIGHT CHARACTERISTICS

The main optical feature of the BIRBTM coating is that the surface is highly diffuse
and the reflectivity is low out to 500 μm wavelengths assuming Lambertian performance.
This characteristic translates into excellent stray light properties, which can be leveraged
for optical instruments. FIGURE 5 shows the Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution
Function (BRDF) data for this material at incident angle 15°, 20° and 40°. At low incident
angles, the BRDF curve is low and flat. However, as the incident angle increases, the
BRDF curve gets higher for scatter angle close to the specular direction. The data
presented are from a test at a wavelength of 12 μm, but it is assumed to be similar over a
range of wavelengths from 1 to 30 μm, and essentially Lambertian in stray light
performance.

Incident
Angle of
12μm
source

FIGURE 5. BRDF test results for BIRBTM at 12 μm wavelength and three different incident angles (1998).

1501
BIRBTM PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

TABLE 1. Summary of physical properties for BIRBTM.

Property Test Results

33.60 ≤ ρ ≤ 61.00
Surface electrical resistivity ≤ 1010 Ω/square per ASTM D257/D4496
(+/- 20 Ω/square)
33.60 ≤ ρ ≤ 61.00
Volume electrical resistivity ≤1010 Ω-cm per ASTM D257/D4496
(+/- 20 Ω-cm)
Thermal conductivity (40K ≤ Tcoupon ≤ 350K) per ASTM E1225 0.07W/m-K ≤ Tc ≤ 0.44W/m-K
Specific heat, Cp in J/g ºC (125K ≤ Tcoupon ≤ 350K) per ASTM E1269 0.2 ≤ Cp ≤ 1.02

Characterization of several other critical physical properties is essential for the

qualification and analysis of BIRBTM for spaceflight applications. These physical
properties are summarized in TABLE 1. In support of the development of the thermal-
optical properties, it was necessary to know the specific heat, thermal conductivity, coating
thickness, and aerial density of the coating. The thermal conductivity and specific heat of
BIRBTM decreases predictably from ambient to cryogenic temperatures. The data is
presented in FIGURES 6 and 7. As mentioned previously, the coating has a high overall
thickness and does add appreciable mass to low mass honeycomb assemblies. The areal
density measures at 0.43 kg/m2 illustrating that for designs where mass is critical, it is
important to account for the mass of BIRBTM in the design. The areal density measurement
was made by weighing a portion of the as-painted coating upon removal from the surface.
Similarly, the nominal thickness of BIRB, which ranges between 0.000889m (0.035in) to
0.00127m (0.050in), must be taken into account for designs with tight clearances due to the
potential to contact and damage the coated surface.
Another critical physical property for spacecraft applications is electrical resistivity.
For external applications in space, charging can occur from interactions with charged
particles. If the charge cannot be safely bled off the surface, dangerously high voltages can
accumulate and result in an electrostatic discharge (ESD) event which can damage
spacecraft electronics. BIRBTM is inherently static dissipative measuring between 33.6 and
61.0 ohms-cm for volumetric resistivity. Surface resistivity is more difficult to measure due
to the rough surface morphology of BIRBTM, but testing using a charge plate monitor
demonstrates that the BIRBTM surface decayed a charge of 1000V to 100V in less than 0.1
sec.

0.5
Thermal Conductivity (W/m-K)

0.4

0.3

0.2
Sample 1

0.1 Sample 2

0
0 100 200 300 400
Temperature (oK)
FIGURE 6. BIRBTM thermal conductivity as a function of temperature.

1502
 1.2

Specific Heat (J/g-oK)

1.0

0.8

0.6

0.4 1100-1S-1A
1100-1S-2A
0.2

0.0
100 150 200 250 300 350
Temperature (oK)
FIGURE 7. BIRBTM specific heat as a function of temperature.

For vacuum and spacecraft applications, molecular and particle contamination of

nonmetallic materials are critical parameters for material selection. BIRBTM vacuum
outgassing properties are summarized in TABLE 2. The coating tolerates vacuum bakeouts
up to 398K (125ºC) to reduce volatile contaminants. After vacuum baking, BIRBTM meets
the NASA outgassing standard of <1.0% Total Mass Loss (TML) and 0.10% Collected
Volatile Condensable Material (CVCM) as measured by ASTM E595 [5]. The material
also shows excellent outgassing rate properties when tested per ASTM E1559 [6]. With
respect to particle cleanliness, BIRBTM can be post-processed to mitigate particle shedding.
In these cases, the coating can be rinsed and verified to meet particle cleanliness
requirements that meet Level 300 per IEST-STD-CC1246. The BIRBTM coating can be
damaged by physical contact, so particular care must be exercised when handling coated
components.

BIRBTM MECHANICAL PROPERTIES [7]

Certain mechanical and adhesion properties are necessary to evaluate the suitability
of coatings for the intended application. A summary of mechanical properties for BIRBTM
is presented in TABLE 2. To qualify a thermal control coating, the demonstration of
adhesion is required after cyclical exposure to the required temperature extremes. To
demonstrate the adhesion properties, an 1100 aluminum panel was coated with BIRBTM
and vacuum baked at 398K (125ºC) and a pressure of less than 10-6 torr. The panel was
then cryogenically cycled five times between 350K (77ºC) and 20K (-253ºC), with ramp
rates that did not exceed 1K per minute. After thermal cycling, scribe adhesion testing and
tape adhesion testing were performed. The BIRBTM coating passed both adhesion tests with
no evidence of failed adhesion, and no change when compared to a BIRBTM panel which
had not been thermally processed. To further demonstrate the adhesion properties of BIRB,
the same thermally cycled aluminum panel was subjected to vibration levels commensurate
with spacecraft random vibration launch loads. The test simulated the random vibration
accelerations attributable to a spacecraft launch vehicle, which resulted in total
displacements in excess of 5cm on the cantilevered test panel. The coating demonstrated
outstanding adhesion after vibration testing, surviving the test without accruing any
damage. FIGURE 8 shows a painted flight honeycomb radiator panel.

TABLE 2. Summary of Mechanical Properties for BIRB.

Property Test Results

Adhesion per Fed. Std. Method No. 141, Method 6301.3 No loss of adhesion noted
Survival of vibration loads: 5.1 ksi / 13,586 cycles Three full level runs completed successfully

1503
FIGURE 8. BIRBTM coated flight radiator panel (perimeter handling fixtures not part of flight assembly).

SUMMARY

The new thermal control coating Ball InfraRed Black, produced by Ball Aerospace
and Technologies Corp represents a major advancement in cryogenic radiator coatings. Its
thermal emissivity at temperatures below 100K (-173ºC) is unrivaled in the industry. The
unique open morphology of BIRBTM produces an ideal surface from which thermal
radiators can reject heat, and has the added benefit of excellent stray light control for
optical systems. The coating has been qualified for spaceflight, displaying outstanding
adhesion after thermal cycling and after exposure to flight-level random vibration loads.
BIRBTM dissipates static charge from its surface, and possesses good thermal conductivity
and specific heat properties. The thermal vacuum stability and resistance to generating
particles make BIRBTM an excellent choice for contamination-sensitive applications.
Cryogenic spacecraft, terrestrial cryogenic vacuum systems, and optical instruments are
ideal applications for this unique thermal control coating.

REFERENCES

1. Gilmore, D., Spacecraft Thermal Control Handbook, Aerospace Press, El Segundo, CA, 2002, pp.141.
2. Kauder, L., Spacecraft Thermal Control Coatings References NASA/TP-2005-212792, NASA/Goddard
Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, 2005.
3. Finley, P. and Schweickart, R. “Mid-mission Update of the Spitzer Space Telescope Cryogenic
Performance,” in Advances in Cryogenic Engineering 51, edited by J.G. Weisend II et al., Plenum, New
York, 2006, pp. 1295-1302.
4. Tolson, W., Or, C., GSFC, SAI –RPT-0733 Internal Report, November 2005.
5. ASTM Standard 595: Standard Test Method for Total Mass Loss and Collected Volatile Condensable
Materials from Outgassing in a Vacuum Environment, Annual Book of ASTM Standards, ASTM
International, West Conshohocken, PA, 1998.
6. ASTM Standard 1559: Standard Test Method for Contamination Outgassing Characteristics of
Spacecraft Materials, Annual Book of ASTM Standards, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA,
1998.
7. Renbarger, M., “Properties of Ball InfraRed Black™, a new cryogenic thermal control coating”, in
Proceedings of SPIE, Optical System Contamination: Effects, Measurements, and Control 2010,
Volume 7794, edited by S.A. Straka et al., SPIE, Bellingham, WA, 2010, pp. 77940F-1 – 77940F-11

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