Solar selective black nickel–cobalt coatings on aluminum alloys

Solar selective black nickel–cobalt plating on pre cleaned aluminum alloy substrates with nickel undercoat were investigated. Process optimization was carried out by the hull cell experiments investigating the influence of operating variables on the optical selectivity of the coating. The coatings were characterized with scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopic and polarization studies. Evaluation of the coatings was carried out by adhesion, measurement of coating thickness and optical properties, humidity, thermal cycling, thermo-vacuum performance and thermal stability tests.