Axalta's PercoTop coating used on radio telescope in Effelsberg, Germany | Business Wire
Axalta Coating Systems have developed a unique coating for use on one of the world’s largest radio telescopes in Effelsberg, Germany.
The Effelsberg telescope is a powerful short-wave radiation telescope designed to spot the nuclei of distant galaxies, jets of matter emitted by black holes, star formations, dust clusters and pulsars.
As part of worldwide network of radio telescopes, it is also used for observing astronomical objects at high resolutions. The white polyvinylic coating, PercoTop® CS551 Foliflex Topcoat developed by Axalta, prevents damage to the telescope caused by UV radiation and weathering.
This custom made coating has been specially formulated for use on radio telescopes and has been applied on to the Effelsberg telescope once every 18 years since it became operational back in 1972.
Painters applying Axalta's PercoTop coating on radio telescope in Effelsberg, Germany | Business Wire
Six specially trained painters are required to coat the telescope with the product over several days. “With a surface of 5400m2 and with 1500 individual panels, the portion of the dish that needs to be coated is immense,” said Klaus Bruns from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, who is responsible for the technical maintenance of the Effelsberg telescope.
“It is important that we can keep the delicate aluminium substrate of the reflectors at an even surface temperature to obtain accurate measurements with the telescope. Having a coating that protects the aluminium from deformation, weathering, bird droppings and UV radiation is therefore absolutely essential,” he added.
Dr. Harald Paulussen, Technical Product Manager and Application Engineering, Industrial and Transportation Coatings for Axalta in Europe, Middle East and Africa, said, “The original coatings’ tests during the construction phase of the telescope took place in 1968. A considerable number of tests were required to develop the optimal formulation for the telescope. It became clear that in addition to weather-resistance, it was necessary for the coating not to interfere at all with the electro-magnetic waves, to be almost invisible to them.
"This ‘transparency’ helps to ensure that the incoming radio waves are reflected off the metal surface of the telescope and not off the paint. It was also important to achieve a scattered reflection of infra-red radiation as the reflectors’ large areas can generate significant heat. Once we knew exactly what was needed for the end-application, we developed a formulation that would address all these requirements,” he added.
The surface of the telescope is sanded with large disc sanders which are nearly 20cm in diameter. Following this, the coating is applied without a primer but instead using rollers. The dust generated during sanding process is collected using the large sanders similar to vacuum cleaners.
The work is likely to be completed by summer 2015 following which the Effelsberg radio telescope will be protected with Axalta’s PercoTop CS551 Foliflex Topcoat and continue to offer precise measurements.
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