Painted broadcast-frequency reflective component

• US 20040178967A1
• Filed: 03/14/2003
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Long, Lynn E., Cordaro, James F.
• Granted Patent: US 6,917,347 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/912
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/288 Satellite antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/144 with a honeycomb, cellular or foamed sandwich structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making

Abstract

A component that is reflective for broadcast-frequency energy includes a nonmetallic substrate having a substrate surface, and a layered coating overlying and contacting the substrate. The layered coating has an electrically conductive layer overlying and contacting the substrate surface, and a layer of a white paint overlying and contacting the electrically conductive layer. The white paint is formed of a plurality of particles including a plurality of pigment particles. Each pigment particle has a composition of A[xAl(1−x)Ga]₂O₄(δD), A is selected from the group consisting of zinc, cadmium, and magnesium, D is a dopant selected from the group consisting of a cationic dopant having an ionic valence greater than +2 and an anionic dopant, the value of x is from 0 to 1, and the value of δ is from 0 to about 0.2. The paint further includes an inorganic or an organic binder mixed with the particles to form a mixture.

Claims

1. A component that is reflective for broadcast-frequency energy, comprising:

a nonmetallic substrate having a substrate surface; and

a layered coating overlying and contacting the substrate, the layered coating comprising;

an electrically conductive layer overlying and contacting the substrate surface, and

a layer of a white paint overlying and contacting the electrically conductive layer, wherein the white paint comprises

a plurality of particles comprising a plurality of pigment particles, wherein each pigment particle has a composition of A[xAl(1−

x)Ga]₂O₄(δ

D), A is selected from the group consisting of zinc, cadmium, and magnesium, D is a dopant selected from the group consisting of a cationic dopant having an ionic valence greater than +2 and an anionic dopant, the value of x is from 0 to 1, and the value of δ

is from 0 to about 0.2, and

a binder mixed with the particles to form a mixture, wherein the binder is selected from the group consisting of an organic binder and an inorganic binder.

2. The component of claim 1, wherein the substrate has a shape defining a broadcast-frequency antenna reflector.

3. The component of claim 1, wherein the substrate has a shape defining a broadcast-frequency Cassegrain antenna reflector.

4. The component of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a composite material.

5. The component of claim 1, wherein the nonmetallic substrate includes

an undercoat layer at the substrate surface.

6. The component of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a graphite/epoxy composite material and an epoxy layer thereon defining the substrate surface.

7. The component of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive layer is a deposited metallic layer.

8. The component of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive layer is a vacuum-deposited aluminum layer.

9. The component of claim 1, wherein the Al:

Ga atomic ratio is from about 0.6 to about 1.0.

10. The component of claim 1, wherein the layer of the white paint has a thickness of from about 0.0005 to about 0.002 inch.

11. A component that is reflective for broadcast-frequency energy, comprising:

a nonmetallic composite-material substrate having a substrate surface and a shape defining a broadcast-frequency antenna reflector; and

a layered coating overlying and contacting the substrate, the layered coating comprising;

an electrically conductive deposited metallic layer overlying and contacting the substrate surface, and

a layer of a white paint overlying and contacting the electrically conductive deposited metallic layer, wherein the white paint comprises

a plurality of particles comprising a plurality of pigment particles, wherein each pigment particle has a composition of A[xAl(1−

x)Ga]₂O₄(δ

D), A is selected from the group consisting of zinc, cadmium, and magnesium, D is a dopant selected from the group consisting of a cationic dopant having an ionic valence greater than +2 and an anionic dopant, the value of x is from 0 to 1, and the value of δ

is from 0 to about 0.2, and

a binder mixed with the particles to form a mixture, wherein the binder is selected from the group consisting of an organic binder and an inorganic binder.

12. The component of claim 11, wherein the substrate has a shape defining a broadcast-frequency Cassegrain antenna reflector.

13. The component of claim 11, wherein the nonmetallic substrate includes

an undercoat layer at the substrate surface.

14. The component of claim 11, wherein the Al:

Ga atomic ratio is from about 0.6 to about 1.0.

15. The component of claim 11, wherein the layer of the white paint has a thickness of from about 0.0005 to about 0.002 inch.

16. A method for providing a component that is reflective for broadcast-frequency energy, comprising the steps of:

preparing a nonmetallic substrate having a substrate surface; and

applying a layered coating overlying and contacting the substrate by the steps of;

depositing an electrically conductive layer overlying and contacting the substrate surface, and

painting a layer of a white paint overlying and contacting the electrically conductive layer, wherein the white paint comprises

a plurality of particles comprising a plurality of pigment particles, wherein each pigment particle has a composition of A[xAl(1−

x)Ga]₂O₄(δ

D), A is selected from the group consisting of zinc, cadmium, and magnesium, D is a dopant selected from the group consisting of a cationic dopant having an ionic valence greater than +2 and an anionic dopant, the value of x is from 0 to 1, and the value of δ

is from 0 to about 0.2, and

a binder mixed with the particles to form a mixture, wherein the binder is selected from the group consisting of an organic binder and an inorganic binder.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of preparing includes the step of

applying an undercoat layer at the substrate surface.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of preparing the nonmetallic substrate includes the step of

preparing the nonmetallic substrate in a shape of a broadcast-frequency antenna reflector.

19. The method of claim 16, including an additional step, after the step of applying, of

directing a beam of broadcast-frequency energy against the component.