Black is the New Black, Again
8 May 2008, 16:37
Categories: nanotubes-wires-fullerenes nanocomposites
Following the research studies performed by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, which obtained the darkest material ever made by man, Grado Zero Espace (GZE) dispersed a low amount of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into polymer to produce a composite that absorbs visible radiations of light. Their product, called Absolute Black provides good workability, is black through and through, and it is possible to customize the amount of light that is absorbed by the material by varying the proportion of nanotubes.
As the product is called Absolute Black, and is being promoted as a product that is “able to absorb very well all the visible spectrum radiations,” we asked GZE to explain why white light is being reflected off the surface of the material, as shown in their own images. Although some portion of visible light should be absorbed by the material, the reflected white light indicates to us that a full spectrum of visible light wavelengths is also bouncing off the surface. In GZE’s response, they note that the CNTs make the polymer more black than it would otherwise be:
Absolute Black, show a good absorbing to the visible light, more than a normal black colour, depends to the quantity in percentage of nanotubes that you put in the polymer matrix. Also under a strong white light the material is opaque and reflect light less than normal black polymer.
Posted by: The Editors
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