Black Chromia Plating for the Solar Radiation Absorbers

Black chromia layers were produced on copper, zirconium and aluminium substrates. These layers are aimed to serve as solar collectors. Efficiency of the layers during UV-VIS, UV radiation and WSP® plasma torch radiation is described. The chromia layers were prepared by a new procedure, i.e. deposition of ammonium dichromate solution using plasma torch or so called Liquid Precursor Plasma Spraying (LPPS). Solution of ammonium dichromate is fed into plasma stream, where dissociation takes place under temperatures of 4000 K – 25000 K. Up to nanometric oxide particles can be produced; the resulting size is dependent on solution concentration and feeding nozzle diameter. The particles impact on substrate and form coating. Using 2 wt.% to 5 wt.% solution of ammonium dichromate and feeding nozzle of 0.2 mm in diameter is the size of produced chromia particles about 6 µm which results in formation of 2 µm to 3 µm thick coating, i.e. according to the theory an optimal thickness 2.5 um for absorption layers, necessary condition for formation energy traps for IR radiation emitters up to 100°C. Moreover, black chromia coating is a suitable corrosion barrier of metallic substrates. \n\