Method for forming radiation shield and related inorganic structural color paint pigments with different nanoparticle sizes and layer thicknesses
A method is for forming a radiation shield around an object. The method includes providing an inorganic paint pigment comprising a fluid matrix, and paint flakes carried within the fluid matrix. Each paint flake includes a common aluminum mirror 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. The method also includes coating an outer surface of the object with the inorganic paint pigment.
1 . A method for forming a radiation shield around an object, the method comprising:
providing an inorganic paint pigment comprising
a fluid matrix, and
a plurality of paint flakes carried within the fluid matrix, each paint flake comprising
a common aluminum mirror 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, each of the first plasmonic aluminum reflector layer and the second plasmonic aluminum reflector layer comprising a first contiguous set of self-assembled aluminum particles having a first thickness and a second contiguous set of self-assembled aluminum particles having a second thickness different than the first thickness; and
coating an outer surface of the object with the inorganic paint pigment.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the object comprises one of a housing structure, a vehicle, and a fabric.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein each of the first plasmonic aluminum reflector layer and the second plasmonic aluminum reflector layer comprises an oxide layer over the common aluminum mirror layer.
4 . The method of claim 3 wherein the oxide layer comprises an aluminum oxide layer.
5 . The method of claim 3 wherein plasmon resonance within each of the first plasmonic aluminum reflector layer and the second plasmonic aluminum reflector layer is independent to an angle of incidence for incident visible radiation.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the fluid matrix comprises at least one of a solution and a polymer resin.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the fluid matrix comprises a binder fluid.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein the fluid matrix comprises isopropyl alcohol (IPA).
9 . The method of claim 1 wherein each paint flake is symmetric about the common aluminum mirror layer.
10 . An inorganic paint pigment comprising:
a fluid matrix; and
a plurality of paint flakes carried within the fluid matrix;
each paint flake comprising
a common aluminum mirror 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;
each of the first plasmonic aluminum reflector layer and the second plasmonic aluminum reflector layer comprising
an oxide layer over the common aluminum mirror layer, and
first and second layers of self-assembled aluminum particles over the oxide layer, each of the first and second layers of self-assembled aluminum particles comprising a first contiguous set of self-assembled aluminum particles having a first thickness and a second contiguous set of self-assembled aluminum particles having a second thickness different than the first thickness.
11 . The inorganic paint pigment of claim 10 wherein the first and second layers of self-assembled aluminum particles are vertically spaced.
12 . The inorganic paint pigment of claim 10 wherein the first and second layers of self-assembled aluminum particles are laterally spaced over the oxide layer.
13 . The inorganic paint pigment of claim 10 wherein the common aluminum mirror layer comprises an aluminum mirror layer.
14 . The inorganic paint pigment of claim 10 wherein the oxide layer comprises an aluminum oxide layer.
15 . The inorganic paint pigment of claim 10 wherein plasmon resonance within each of the first plasmonic aluminum reflector layer and the second plasmonic aluminum reflector layer is independent to an angle of incidence for incident visible radiation.
16 . The inorganic paint pigment of claim 10 wherein the fluid matrix comprises at least one of a solution and a polymer resin.
17 . The inorganic paint pigment of claim 10 wherein the fluid matrix comprises a binder fluid.
18 . A method for making an inorganic paint pigment comprising:
forming a plurality of paint flakes, each paint flake comprising
a common aluminum mirror 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;
each of the first plasmonic aluminum reflector layer and the second plasmonic aluminum reflector layer comprising
an oxide layer over the common aluminum mirror layer, and
first and second layers of self-assembled aluminum particles over the oxide layer, each of the first and second layers of self-assembled aluminum particles comprising a first contiguous set of self-assembled aluminum particles having a first thickness and a second contiguous set of self-assembled aluminum particles having a second thickness different than the first thickness; and
placing the plurality of paint flakes within a fluid matrix.
19 . The method of claim 18 wherein the first and second layers of self-assembled aluminum particles are vertically spaced.
20 . The method of claim 18 wherein the first and second layers of self-assembled aluminum particles are laterally spaced over the oxide layer.