Coating pigment composed of zinc oxide and potassium silicate resists the effects of thermal shock and long exposure to direct sunlight

Harada, Y.

Rechter, H. L.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

November 1965	 Brief 65-10354 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
NASA Tech Briefs are issued by the Technology Utilization Division to summarize specific 
technical innovations derived from the space program. Copies are available to the public from 
the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical information, Springfield, Virginia, 22151. 
Pigmented Coating Resists Thermal Shock 
The problem: To provide a coating for space ve-
hicles that will resist the effects of thermal shock and 
long exposure to direct sunlight. 
The solution: A mixture of zinc oxide and potas-
sium silicate calcined for 16 hours at 7000C to form 
the coating pigment. 
How it's done: The calcined pigment materials are 
mixed in a pigment-to-binder ratio of 4.30:1 with a 
solids content of 56.9%. A typical batch consists of 
100 g of zinc oxide, 50 cc of a 35% solution of potas-
sium silicate, and 50 cc of distilled water. Ball milling 
follows, using porcelain balls in a dense alumina mill 
with a volume ratio of ball-to-material of 1:3 and a 
total charge of less than 50%. A milling time of 6 
hours yields a satisfactory consistency for spraying. 
Aluminum or plastic substrates must be abraded 
and thoroughly cleaned prior to spraying. A first coat 
is lightly applied, using purified nitrogen for pressure, 
until a reflection due to liquid is apparent. Following
air drying, a second, heavier coat is applied until a 
glossy finished texture is achieved. 
Notes: 
1. Satisfactory physical properties are obtained by air 
drying but improved hardness may be obtained by 
heat curing at 1401C. 
2. Inquiries concerning this innovation may be di-
rected to: 
Technology Utilization Officer 
Jet Propulsion Laboratory 
4800 Oak Grove Drive 
Pasadena, California, 91103 
Reference: B65-10354 
Patent status: NASA encourages commercial use 
of this innovation. No patent action is contemplated 
by NASA. 
Source: Harold L. Rechter and Yoshiro Harada
of LIT Research Institute under contract 
to Jet Propulsion Laboratory
(J PL-SC-083) 
Category 03 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
will be free from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19650000352 2020-03-11T17:24:49+00:00Z


Pigmented coating resists thermal shock

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

NASA Technical Reports Server