Metal-dielectric light absorbers manufactured by ion plating

In order to improve their mechanic and climatic properties, we studied the manufacturing of metal-dielectric light absorbers using an Ion Plating Process. The choice of the materials, Hf for the metal and SiO2 for the dielectric, allows us of to use the deposition plant for either metal dielectric or all dielectric HfO2-SiO2 coatings without any change. After an index characterization of metallic films, we manufactured monochromatic and broad-band coatings. These coatings have been qualified for space environment.