A multilayer thin film that reflects an omnidirectional structural color having a reflective core layer comprising a metallic material, a second layer extending across the reflective core layer, a third layer extending across the second layer, and an outer layer extending across the third layer. The multilayer thin film reflects a single narrow band of visible light that is less than 30° measured in Lab color space when viewed from angles between 0° and 45°, and the reflective core layer has a skin depth δ of greater than or equal to 1.0 μm in a frequency range from 20-40 GHz, as calculated by: $\delta =\sqrt{\frac{2\rho }{\left(2\pi f\right)\left({\mu }_0{\mu }_r\right)}}\approx 503\sqrt{\frac{\rho }{{\mu }_{r}f}},$
δ is skin depth in meters (m); ρ is resistivity in ohm meter (Ω.Math.m); f is frequency of an electromagnetic radiation in hertz (Hz); μ.sub.0 is permeability; and μ.sub.r is relative permeability of the metallic material.

A system for applying a coating composition to a substrate utilizing a high transfer efficiency applicator is provided herein. The system includes a high transfer efficiency applicator defining a nozzle orifice. The coating composition comprises a carrier and a binder. The coating composition has a viscosity of from about 0.002 Pa*s to about 0.2 Pa*s, a density of from about 838 kg/m3 to about 1557 kg/m3, a surface tension of from about 0.015 N/m to about 0.05 N/m, and a relaxation time of from about 0.0005 s to about 0.02 s. The high transfer efficiency applicator is configured to expel the coating composition through the nozzle orifice to the substrate to form a coating layer. At least 80% of the droplets of the coating composition expelled from the high transfer efficiency applicator contact the substrate.

An inorganic paint pigment may include a fluid matrix, and paint flakes carried within the fluid matrix. Each paint flake may include a common aluminum layer having a first major surface and a second major surface opposing the first major surface, a first plasmonic aluminum reflector layer carried by the first major surface, and a second plasmonic aluminum reflector layer carried by the second major surface.

Black titanium dioxide has a crystalline titanium dioxide core and an amorphous titanium dioxide shell that encompasses the crystalline titanium dioxide core. The black titanium dioxide has a reflectivity of electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectrum that is less than or equal to 15% and a reflectivity for near-IR and LiDAR electromagnetic radiation that is greater than or equal to 10%. The black titanium dioxide has a band gap from greater than or equal to 1.0 eV to less than or equal to 2.0 eV.

This invention provides resin formulations which may be used for 3D printing and pyrolyzing to produce a ceramic matrix composite. The resin formulations contain a solid-phase filler, to provide high thermal stability and mechanical strength (e.g., fracture toughness) in the final ceramic material. The invention provides direct, free-form 3D printing of a preceramic polymer loaded with a solid-phase filler, followed by converting the preceramic polymer to a 3D-printed ceramic matrix composite with potentially complex 3D shapes or in the form of large parts. Other variations provide active solid-phase functional additives as solid-phase fillers, to perform or enhance at least one chemical, physical, mechanical, or electrical function within the ceramic structure as it is being formed as well as in the final structure. Solid-phase functional additives actively improve the final ceramic structure through one or more changes actively induced by the additives during pyrolysis or other thermal treatment.

A method for increasing a detection distance of a surface of an object illuminated by near-IR electromagnetic radiation, including: (a) directing near-IR electromagnetic radiation from a near-IR electromagnetic radiation source towards an object at least partially coated with a near-IR reflective coating that increases a near-IR electromagnetic radiation detection distance by at least 15% as measured at a wavelength in a near-IR range as compared to the same object coated with a color matched coating which absorbs more of the same near-IR radiation, where the color matched coating has a ΔE color matched value of 1.5 or less when compared to the near-IR reflective coating; and (b) detecting reflected near-IR electromagnetic radiation reflected from the near-IR reflective coating. A system for detecting proximity of vehicles is also disclosed.

A system for applying a first, a second, and a third coating composition. The system includes a first high transfer efficiency applicator defining a first nozzle orifice. The system further includes a second high transfer efficiency applicator defining a second nozzle orifice. The system further includes a third high transfer efficiency applicator defining a third nozzle orifice. The system further includes a substrate defining a target area. The first, the second, and the third high transfer efficiency applicators are configured to expel the first coating composition through the first nozzle orifice to the target area of the substrate, through the second nozzle orifice to the target area of the substrate, and through the third nozzle orifice to the target area of the substrate.

A method of applying a trivalent chromium or chromium-free conversion coating to a metallic substrate including mixing a dye compound that interacts with electromagnetic radiation outside the human visual spectrum but not electromagnetic radiation that is within the human visual spectrum to produce an observable emission into the trivalent chromium or chromium-free conversion coating mixture to allow for inspection of the coating after applied with a correlating electromagnetic radiation source.

A coating material that provides thermal insulation of the surfaces where the coating material treats and reduces the amount of solar or other thermal energies that can affect structures in an unfavorable manner. The coating material has a water-acrylic polymer solution which provides the characteristics of the coating material with specific weight proportions in its body, hollow glass spheres in micron and/or nano-dimensions and coated with binding agents which increase the interface bond between the water-acrylic polymer solution and/or hollow glass spheres which can be used as the filling substance.

The present disclosure relates generally to polyurethane-based coatings with high solar reflectivity, for example, for use as a coating on a building surfaces. In one aspect the disclosure provides a solar reflective coating that comprises a functionalized anionic polyurethane present in an amount in the range of 10-80 wt %, preferably 20-80 wt % of the composition on a dry solids basis; a water-insoluble transition metal crosslinking agent present in an amount in the range of 0.5-30 wt % of the composition on a dry solids basis; and at least one of: a hydrophobic acrylic polymer present in an amount in the range of 20 wt % to 80 wt % on a dry solids basis, and a near-infrared reflective colored pigment present in an amount of at least 0.1 wt %, e.g., in the range of 0.2 wt % to 10 wt % on a dry solids basis.