Aeroglaze A276 white polyurethane paint A276
Moisture-curing polyurethane coating with titanium dioxide pigment (Acktar Table 1 prints 'Polyurethane with TiO2 pigment')
Also known as AEROGLAZE A276, Aeroglaze 276 White Gloss, A276
AEROGLAZE A276 is a gloss white, moisture-curing polyurethane topcoat.
Evidence level
2 of 5
Lab-measured
- 0Predicted only. No one has made it, or no measurement exists.
- 1Calculated. Only calculated or predicted values from sources.
- 2Lab-measured. Measured properties with their conditions stated.
- 3Space-relevant tests. Measured in conditions relevant to space, such as vacuum or atomic oxygen.
- 4Ground-qualified. Qualified for an application on the ground.
- 5Flown or field-proven. Flight or field results exist.
Reflect sunlight
0.23 solar absorptivity
Radiate heat
0.91 normal emissivity
Stay low in outgassing
0.99 % TML and 0.08 % CVCM
Recipe, share of the weight
- not printed in any source readPolyurethane binder
- not printed in any source readTitanium dioxide pigment
Best for
White thermal-control surfaces that need a gloss white finish, with the solar absorptivity of 0.23 and normal emissivity of 0.91 printed in the Socomore leaflet
Weakest at
Atomic oxygen in low Earth orbit: on the LDEF leading edge the A276 polyurethane binder eroded completely (NASA A0034 interim results), and the S0069 report says silicone overcoats allowed solar UV damage
Risk at a glance
- People Moderate. Pigment and isocyanate hazard, not measured for A276
- If it fails High. Atomic oxygen erosion of the polyurethane binder
- Corrosion Severe. On the LDEF leading edge, atomic oxygen eroded the A276 polyurethane binder completely, and diffuse reflectance stayed relatively unchanged.
Why it exists
AEROGLAZE A276 is a gloss white polyurethane topcoat for spacecraft thermal control. The Socomore leaflet prints a solar absorptivity of 0.23 and a normal emissivity of 0.91 for it, with a TML of 0.99 % and a CVCM of 0.08 %. Acktar's page gives a different solar absorptance of 0.170 and thermal emittance of 0.880 without conditions, so the two sets are kept apart.
Where it's used
Spacecraft thermal control
The Socomore leaflet lists NASA's Hubble Telescope, the Space Shuttle program and the LDEF among notable applications of the AEROGLAZE topcoats, which include A276.
Planetary mission test
Acktar lists Aeroglaze 276 among white thermal control paints evaluated by ITL for planetary missions, in tests that included vacuum and dust, without printing A276 results.
Recipe
Moisture-curing polyurethane coating with titanium dioxide pigment (Acktar Table 1 prints 'Polyurethane with TiO2 pigment')
AEROGLAZE A276 is a moisture-curing polyurethane coating with titanium dioxide pigment, per the Acktar Table 1 entry. Polyurethanes are typically made by reacting a diisocyanate with a polyol, per Wikipedia. The A276 formulation, its isocyanate, its polyol and the pigment share are not printed in any source read.
| Ingredient | Share of the weight | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Polyurethane binder | not printed in any source read | Moisture-curing polyurethane binder, the film-forming part of the paint; the NASA A0034 paper says the A276 binder eroded completely under atomic oxygen on the LDEF leading edge |
| Titanium dioxide pigment | not printed in any source read | White pigment named in Acktar Table 1 as the pigment of Aeroglaze 276 White Gloss |
Weight shares are as printed in the sources.
What it can do
Reflect sunlight
0.23 solar absorptivity
measured
The Socomore leaflet prints a solar absorptivity of 0.23 for AEROGLAZE A276. Acktar's summary table prints 0.170 for the same paint with no conditions, so the two are not merged.
Radiate heat
0.91 normal emissivity
measured
The Socomore leaflet prints a normal emissivity of 0.91 for AEROGLAZE A276. Acktar's Table 6 prints a thermal emittance of 0.880, which is a different figure from a different source.
Stay low in outgassing
0.99 % TML and 0.08 % CVCM
measured
The leaflet prints a TML of 0.99 % and a CVCM of 0.08 % for AEROGLAZE A276, both obtained by a modified cure or bake-out schedule.
How it compares
The Socomore leaflet and the Modus article agree on a solar absorptivity of 0.23 for A276, while Acktar Table 6 prints 0.170 with no test conditions, and the leaflet and Acktar's thermal emittance of 0.880 are not the same measure. The black sister topcoat Z306 is in its own profile; it is a different paint, so it is not compared here. Test schedules and film thicknesses differ between sources, so none of these rows is a ranking.
The same measurements for each material, so you can compare them. Each row names the key condition under the value; the full conditions and methods are in the numbered notes under Technical details.
| Measurement | A276 |
|---|---|
| Thermal behavior and safety | |
| Thermal emittance, Aeroglaze 276 (Acktar summary table) | 0.88 -6 |
| Physical and electrical | |
| Optimal dry film thickness, AEROGLAZE A276 (Modus Advanced article) | 1.5 mils10 |
| Other measurements | |
| Solar absorptivity, AEROGLAZE A276 (manufacturer leaflet) | 0.23 -1 |
| Normal emissivity, AEROGLAZE A276 (manufacturer leaflet) | 0.91 -2 |
| Total mass loss (TML), AEROGLAZE A276 | 0.99 %3 |
| Collected volatile condensable material (CVCM), AEROGLAZE A276 | 0.08 %4 |
| Solar absorptance, Aeroglaze 276 (Acktar summary table) | 0.17 -5 |
| Atomic oxygen erosion result, A276 (Acktar Table 3) | -243.9 μg/cm²7 |
| Mass change under atomic oxygen, A276 (Acktar Table 3) | -1.69 mg8 |
| Solids content, AEROGLAZE A276 (Modus Advanced article) | 54 % by weight9 |
| VOC content, AEROGLAZE A276 (Modus Advanced article) | 503 g/L11 |
| Curing time for ultimate properties, AEROGLAZE A276 (Modus Advanced article) | 14 days12 |
Why choose it, and why not
Good for
- Gloss white thermal-control surfaces: solar absorptivity 0.23 and normal emissivity 0.91 as printed in the Socomore leaflet.
- Low-outgassing white coatings: TML of 0.99 % and CVCM of 0.08 % as printed in the leaflet, under a modified bake-out schedule.
Watch out for
- Atomic oxygen: on the LDEF leading edge the A276 binder eroded completely, per the NASA A0034 paper.
- Solar UV: silicone overcoats stopped material loss on A276 but allowed UV damage, per the S0069 report.
- Source conflict: solar absorptance 0.23 in the leaflet versus 0.170 in Acktar Table 6, with no conditions for the second.
- No temperature range, cure temperature or A276 humidity result was read, so those operating limits are not recorded.
AEROGLAZE A276 is a gloss white polyurethane coating with a solar absorptivity of 0.23 and a normal emissivity of 0.91 in the Socomore leaflet, and TML and CVCM of 0.99 % and 0.08 % under a modified bake-out. Acktar prints different optical values, and LDEF showed the binder eroding under atomic oxygen. Its operating range, cure temperature and any humidity data were not found in any source read.
Technical details
For scientists and researchers. Everything above comes from the record below: every number with its method, its conditions and its source.
Other names and standards
The same grade under other systems, as datasheets and standards print them. Each code was checked against the page it comes from.
| System | Codes |
|---|---|
| Trade name | AEROGLAZE A276, Aeroglaze 276 White Gloss, A276 |
Notes
The method, full conditions and any caveat for the numbered rows above.
| # | Measurement | Method | Conditions | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Solar absorptivity, AEROGLAZE A276 (manufacturer leaflet) | Typical value printed on the manufacturer leaflet | product AEROGLAZE A276, gloss white topcoatbasis dimensionless; the leaflet does not print the test method or film thickness | — |
| 2 | Normal emissivity, AEROGLAZE A276 (manufacturer leaflet) | Typical value printed on the manufacturer leaflet | product AEROGLAZE A276, gloss white topcoatbasis dimensionless; the leaflet does not print the test method or film thickness | — |
| 3 | Total mass loss (TML), AEROGLAZE A276 | Printed on the manufacturer leaflet; the footnote says the values come from a modified cure and/or bake-out schedule | product AEROGLAZE A276basis obtained by a modified cure and/or bake-out schedule, as the leaflet footnote states | — |
| 4 | Collected volatile condensable material (CVCM), AEROGLAZE A276 | Printed on the manufacturer leaflet; the same footnote applies | product AEROGLAZE A276basis obtained by a modified cure and/or bake-out schedule, as the leaflet footnote states | — |
| 5 | Solar absorptance, Aeroglaze 276 (Acktar summary table) | Summary table of optical properties for Russian and USA thermal control materials; method not printed | product Aeroglaze 276 White Glossbasis no test conditions are printed on the page for this value | — |
| 6 | Thermal emittance, Aeroglaze 276 (Acktar summary table) | Summary table of optical properties for Russian and USA thermal control materials; method not printed | product Aeroglaze 276 White Glossbasis no test conditions are printed on the page for this value | — |
| 7 | Atomic oxygen erosion result, A276 (Acktar Table 3) | Erosion result as printed in the table; the page gives mass before and after for the same row | product A276 (Table 3 row name)basis atomic-oxygen beam test in two stages; the total fluence is printed in the table title in exponent form and is not copied here | — |
| 8 | Mass change under atomic oxygen, A276 (Acktar Table 3) | Mass change as printed in the table; mass before and after are 0.19004 g and 0.18835 g on the same row | product A276 (Table 3 row name)basis atomic-oxygen beam test in two stages; the total fluence is printed in the table title in exponent form and is not copied here | — |
| 9 | Solids content, AEROGLAZE A276 (Modus Advanced article) | Product property printed in a competitor's blog post; no test method printed | product AEROGLAZE A276basis range as the article prints it | — |
| 10 | Optimal dry film thickness, AEROGLAZE A276 (Modus Advanced article) | Product property printed in a competitor's blog post; no test method printed | product AEROGLAZE A276basis optimal dry film thickness range as the article prints it | — |
| 11 | VOC content, AEROGLAZE A276 (Modus Advanced article) | Product property printed in a competitor's blog post; no test method printed | product AEROGLAZE A276basis as the article prints it | — |
| 12 | Curing time for ultimate properties, AEROGLAZE A276 (Modus Advanced article) | Product property printed in a competitor's blog post; no cure temperature printed | product AEROGLAZE A276basis time to reach ultimate properties, as the article prints it | — |
Corrosion and compatibility
What happens when it meets other materials and environments.
| Environment | Concern | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Atomic oxygen in low Earth orbit, LDEF leading edge | severe | On the LDEF leading edge, atomic oxygen eroded the A276 polyurethane binder completely, and diffuse reflectance stayed relatively unchanged.1 |
| Solar UV and atomic oxygen, A276 with silicone overcoats | moderate | Silicone overcoats stopped material loss on A276 but let solar UV damage the coating.2 |
| Solar UV under a severely contaminated window | moderate | A276 under a severely contaminated window showed severe degradation from solar UV.3 |
| Black-light illumination after LDEF exposure | not rated | After LDEF exposure, A276 showed both stimulated and quenched fluorescence under black light.4 |
| Moisture, hydrolysis of polyurethane in general | not rated | Polyurethanes in general may degrade by hydrolysis; no moisture-ageing test of A276 was read.5 |
| # | Environment | Details | Test conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atomic oxygen in low Earth orbit, LDEF leading edge | The NASA A0034 interim results say the A276 white coating exposed to atomic oxygen was relatively unchanged in diffuse reflectance despite complete erosion by atomic oxygen of the polyurethane binder. | platform LDEF leading edge, low Earth orbitexposure LDEF mission; the exposure duration is not stated in the passage read |
| 2 | Solar UV and atomic oxygen, A276 with silicone overcoats | The S0069 report says the RTV670 and OI650 silicone overcoats over A276 prevented material loss but allowed, presumably, solar UV damage of the A276 coating, and the silicone layer cracked from atomic-oxygen glassification. | basis LDEF results for overcoated A276 specimens, as reported in the S0069 paper |
| 3 | Solar UV under a severely contaminated window | The NASA A0034 paper says severe degradation of the A276 coating exposed under a severely contaminated window confirms the relatively minimal level of solar UV radiation required for darkening of this coating. | basis LDEF specimen under a severely contaminated window; no darkening rate was given in the passage read |
| 4 | Black-light illumination after LDEF exposure | The NASA A0034 paper says the polyurethane-based paints A276 and Z306 showed both stimulated and quenched fluorescence as a result of space exposure, unlike the zinc oxide pigmented coatings. | basis visual black-light observation in the paper; no fluorescence intensity was given |
| 5 | Moisture, hydrolysis of polyurethane in general | Wikipedia states that polyurethanes may degrade due to hydrolysis. No A276 humidity or moisture-ageing result was found in any source read for this profile. | basis general statement about polyurethanes; not an A276 test |
Risks and side effects
Hazards to people, what happens when a cell overheats, and how the material is handled and stored.
For people
The PubChem entry for titanium dioxide, the pigment named for A276, carries a suspected-carcinogen statement for the pure pigment, and Wikipedia cites OSHA for isocyanate sensitization in polyurethanes.
- Pigment
- PubChem lists a GHS hazard statement, 'Suspected of causing cancer', for titanium dioxide, while its ECHA entry is Not Classified.
- Isocyanates
- Wikipedia states that isocyanates used to make polyurethanes are known skin and respiratory sensitizers, according to OSHA. No source read says whether A276 contains one.
If it fails
In orbit, the failure route in these sources is atomic oxygen erosion of the binder, measured on LDEF.
- Atomic oxygen
- On the LDEF leading edge the A276 binder eroded completely, but the diffuse reflectance stayed relatively unchanged, per the NASA A0034 interim results.
- Silicone overcoats
- The S0069 report says silicone overcoats stopped the material loss but allowed solar UV damage of the A276 coating.
Test details
The original wording and numbers from the sources, for readers who want them.
Failure risks
| Failure | Trigger and consequence |
|---|---|
| Atomic oxygen erosion of the polyurethane binderhigh severity | Unprotected exposure on the LDEF leading edge in low Earth orbitThe binder eroded completely, while the diffuse reflectance stayed relatively unchanged, per the NASA A0034 interim results. |
| Solar UV darkening of the A276 coatingmoderate severity | LDEF specimen under a severely contaminated windowSevere degradation of the A276 coating, per the NASA A0034 paper. |
| Solar UV damage under a silicone overcoatmoderate severity | Silicone overcoats (RTV670 and OI650) used to protect A276 on LDEFThe overcoat prevented material loss but allowed, presumably, solar UV damage of the A276 coating, per the S0069 report. |
Handling and storage
- Acktar's table gives no handling step. The Modus Advanced article says that for most substrates a primer should be applied to ensure adhesion, and the technical data sheet is cited as the source of that advice.
- No manufacturer technical data sheet or safety data sheet for AEROGLAZE A276 was read in this run. The Socomore and Lord sites were not reached, so cure temperature, pot life and handling steps are not recorded from a primary source.
Mitigations
- The S0069 report says silicone overcoats prevented material loss on A276 on LDEF, but they allowed solar UV damage, so an overcoat trades erosion for UV darkening.
Supply and geography
How common the raw materials are and where they come from.
Titanium dioxide pigment (the pigment named for A276 in Acktar Table 1)
Documents
Datasheets, safety data sheets, papers and standards you can open.
Full record
The complete spore, as stored. Free to reuse under CC-BY-4.0. Images keep the licence shown with each one.
Show the full YAML
spore: profile
id: aeroglaze-a276
spore_version: 0.2
family: polyurethanes
name: Aeroglaze A276 white polyurethane paint
abbreviation: A276
role: gloss white moisture-curing polyurethane topcoat for spacecraft thermal control
category: coatings
type: white-paints
summary: |
AEROGLAZE A276 is a gloss white, moisture-curing polyurethane topcoat. The Socomore Aeroglaze leaflet, distributed by Silmid, prints a solar absorptivity of 0.23 and a normal emissivity of 0.91, with a total mass loss (TML) of 0.99 % and a collected volatile condensable material (CVCM) of 0.08 %, the last two under a modified cure or bake-out schedule. Acktar's thermal control page prints a different solar absorptance of 0.170 and thermal emittance of 0.880 for A276, with no test conditions. On the LDEF leading edge, atomic oxygen eroded the A276 polyurethane binder completely, yet the NASA paper says its diffuse reflectance was relatively unchanged.
best_for: White thermal-control surfaces that need a gloss white finish, with the solar absorptivity of 0.23 and normal emissivity of 0.91 printed in the Socomore leaflet
weakest_at: 'Atomic oxygen in low Earth orbit: on the LDEF leading edge the A276 polyurethane binder eroded completely (NASA A0034 interim results), and the S0069 report says silicone overcoats allowed solar UV damage'
identity:
formula: Moisture-curing polyurethane coating with titanium dioxide pigment (Acktar Table 1 prints 'Polyurethane with TiO2 pigment')
designations:
- system: Trade name
code: AEROGLAZE A276
source: silmid-leaflet
where: TOPCOATS table, column heading AEROGLAZE A276
- system: Trade name
code: Aeroglaze 276 White Gloss
source: acktar-thermal-control
where: Table 1 (Summary of properties of selected white thermal control paints), row 8, Material Designation column
- system: Trade name
code: A276
source: nasa-ldef-s0069
where: Section heading 'A276 White Specular Polyurethane Paint'
source: acktar-thermal-control
where: 'Table 1, row 8: Chemical Composition ''Polyurethane with TiO2 pigment''; Manufacturer ''Lord Corp., USA'''
tags:
environments:
- low-earth-orbit
stresses:
- atomic-oxygen
- vacuum-and-outgassing
applications:
- thermal-control
properties:
- benchmark: solar_absorptance
label: Solar absorptivity, AEROGLAZE A276 (manufacturer leaflet)
value: 0.23
unit: '-'
scope: material
conditions:
product: AEROGLAZE A276, gloss white topcoat
basis: dimensionless; the leaflet does not print the test method or film thickness
method: Typical value printed on the manufacturer leaflet
status: ground
source: silmid-leaflet
where: TOPCOATS table, Solar Absorptivity row, AEROGLAZE A276 column
- benchmark: normal_emittance
label: Normal emissivity, AEROGLAZE A276 (manufacturer leaflet)
value: 0.91
unit: '-'
scope: material
conditions:
product: AEROGLAZE A276, gloss white topcoat
basis: dimensionless; the leaflet does not print the test method or film thickness
method: Typical value printed on the manufacturer leaflet
status: ground
source: silmid-leaflet
where: TOPCOATS table, Normal Emissivity row, AEROGLAZE A276 column
- benchmark: total_mass_loss
label: Total mass loss (TML), AEROGLAZE A276
value: 0.99
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
product: AEROGLAZE A276
basis: obtained by a modified cure and/or bake-out schedule, as the leaflet footnote states
method: Printed on the manufacturer leaflet; the footnote says the values come from a modified cure and/or bake-out schedule
status: ground
source: silmid-leaflet
where: TOPCOATS table, TML (%) row, and footnote marked *
- benchmark: cvcm
label: Collected volatile condensable material (CVCM), AEROGLAZE A276
value: 0.08
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
product: AEROGLAZE A276
basis: obtained by a modified cure and/or bake-out schedule, as the leaflet footnote states
method: Printed on the manufacturer leaflet; the same footnote applies
status: ground
source: silmid-leaflet
where: TOPCOATS table, CVCM (%) row, and footnote marked *
- benchmark: solar_absorptance
label: Solar absorptance, Aeroglaze 276 (Acktar summary table)
value: 0.17
unit: '-'
scope: material
conditions:
product: Aeroglaze 276 White Gloss
basis: no test conditions are printed on the page for this value
method: Summary table of optical properties for Russian and USA thermal control materials; method not printed
status: ground
source: acktar-thermal-control
where: Table 6, row A276, solar absorptance (alpha) column
- benchmark: thermal_emittance
label: Thermal emittance, Aeroglaze 276 (Acktar summary table)
value: 0.88
unit: '-'
scope: material
conditions:
product: Aeroglaze 276 White Gloss
basis: no test conditions are printed on the page for this value
method: Summary table of optical properties for Russian and USA thermal control materials; method not printed
status: ground
source: acktar-thermal-control
where: Table 6, row A276, thermal emittance (epsilon) column
- benchmark: atomic_oxygen_erosion
label: Atomic oxygen erosion result, A276 (Acktar Table 3)
value: -243.9
unit: μg/cm2
scope: material
conditions:
product: A276 (Table 3 row name)
basis: atomic-oxygen beam test in two stages; the total fluence is printed in the table title in exponent form and is not copied here
method: Erosion result as printed in the table; the page gives mass before and after for the same row
status: ground
source: acktar-thermal-control
where: Table 3 (FAO erosion mass change data), row A276, Erosion results column
- benchmark: atomic_oxygen_mass_change
label: Mass change under atomic oxygen, A276 (Acktar Table 3)
value: -1.69
unit: mg
scope: material
conditions:
product: A276 (Table 3 row name)
basis: atomic-oxygen beam test in two stages; the total fluence is printed in the table title in exponent form and is not copied here
method: Mass change as printed in the table; mass before and after are 0.19004 g and 0.18835 g on the same row
status: ground
source: acktar-thermal-control
where: Table 3 (FAO erosion mass change data), row A276, Mass change (mg) column
- benchmark: solids_content
label: Solids content, AEROGLAZE A276 (Modus Advanced article)
value: 54
value_high: 58
unit: '% by weight'
scope: material
conditions:
product: AEROGLAZE A276
basis: range as the article prints it
method: Product property printed in a competitor's blog post; no test method printed
status: ground
source: modus-a276-blog
where: Property list, row Solids content
- benchmark: dry_film_thickness
label: Optimal dry film thickness, AEROGLAZE A276 (Modus Advanced article)
value: 1.5
value_high: 2
unit: mils
scope: material
conditions:
product: AEROGLAZE A276
basis: optimal dry film thickness range as the article prints it
method: Product property printed in a competitor's blog post; no test method printed
status: ground
source: modus-a276-blog
where: Property list, row Optimal dry film thickness
- benchmark: voc_content
label: VOC content, AEROGLAZE A276 (Modus Advanced article)
value: 503
unit: g/L
scope: material
conditions:
product: AEROGLAZE A276
basis: as the article prints it
method: Product property printed in a competitor's blog post; no test method printed
status: ground
source: modus-a276-blog
where: Property list, row VOC content
- benchmark: cure_time
label: Curing time for ultimate properties, AEROGLAZE A276 (Modus Advanced article)
value: 14
unit: days
scope: material
conditions:
product: AEROGLAZE A276
basis: time to reach ultimate properties, as the article prints it
method: Product property printed in a competitor's blog post; no cure temperature printed
status: ground
source: modus-a276-blog
where: Property list, row Curing time for ultimate properties
corrosion:
- environment: Atomic oxygen in low Earth orbit, LDEF leading edge
headline: On the LDEF leading edge, atomic oxygen eroded the A276 polyurethane binder completely, and diffuse reflectance stayed relatively unchanged.
effect: The NASA A0034 interim results say the A276 white coating exposed to atomic oxygen was relatively unchanged in diffuse reflectance despite complete erosion by atomic oxygen of the polyurethane binder.
conditions:
platform: LDEF leading edge, low Earth orbit
exposure: LDEF mission; the exposure duration is not stated in the passage read
source: nasa-ldef-a0034
where: Results paragraph beginning 'The A276 white coating exposed to atomic oxygen'
rating: severe
- environment: Solar UV and atomic oxygen, A276 with silicone overcoats
headline: Silicone overcoats stopped material loss on A276 but let solar UV damage the coating.
effect: The S0069 report says the RTV670 and OI650 silicone overcoats over A276 prevented material loss but allowed, presumably, solar UV damage of the A276 coating, and the silicone layer cracked from atomic-oxygen glassification.
conditions:
basis: LDEF results for overcoated A276 specimens, as reported in the S0069 paper
source: nasa-ldef-s0069
where: Section 'RTV670 and OI650 Silicone Overcoats on A276'
rating: moderate
- environment: Solar UV under a severely contaminated window
headline: A276 under a severely contaminated window showed severe degradation from solar UV.
effect: The NASA A0034 paper says severe degradation of the A276 coating exposed under a severely contaminated window confirms the relatively minimal level of solar UV radiation required for darkening of this coating.
conditions:
basis: LDEF specimen under a severely contaminated window; no darkening rate was given in the passage read
source: nasa-ldef-a0034
where: Results paragraph after the diffuse reflectance statement
rating: moderate
- environment: Black-light illumination after LDEF exposure
headline: After LDEF exposure, A276 showed both stimulated and quenched fluorescence under black light.
effect: The NASA A0034 paper says the polyurethane-based paints A276 and Z306 showed both stimulated and quenched fluorescence as a result of space exposure, unlike the zinc oxide pigmented coatings.
conditions:
basis: visual black-light observation in the paper; no fluorescence intensity was given
source: nasa-ldef-a0034
where: Results paragraph on black-light illumination
rating: unknown
- environment: Moisture, hydrolysis of polyurethane in general
headline: Polyurethanes in general may degrade by hydrolysis; no moisture-ageing test of A276 was read.
effect: Wikipedia states that polyurethanes may degrade due to hydrolysis. No A276 humidity or moisture-ageing result was found in any source read for this profile.
conditions:
basis: general statement about polyurethanes; not an A276 test
source: wikipedia-polyurethane
where: Degradation and environmental fate, Hydrolysis and biodegradation
rating: unknown
risks:
hazards:
- text: PubChem's GHS entry for titanium dioxide, the pigment named for A276 in the Acktar table, gives the hazard statement 'Suspected of causing cancer' with the signal word Warning. The ECHA classification listed on the same page is Not Classified. This is the pure pigment, not the formulated paint.
ghs: []
source: pubchem-tio2
where: GHS Classification section
- text: PubChem's NIOSH excerpt for titanium dioxide lists inhalation as the exposure route, lung fibrosis as a symptom, and a potential occupational carcinogen.
ghs: []
source: pubchem-tio2
where: 13.1.4 Health Hazards, NIOSH Pocket Guide excerpt
- text: Wikipedia states that isocyanates used to produce polyurethane polymers are known skin and respiratory sensitizers, according to OSHA. No source read prints whether AEROGLAZE A276 contains an isocyanate.
ghs: []
source: wikipedia-polyurethane
where: Health and safety section
failure_risks:
- mode: Atomic oxygen erosion of the polyurethane binder
trigger: Unprotected exposure on the LDEF leading edge in low Earth orbit
consequence: The binder eroded completely, while the diffuse reflectance stayed relatively unchanged, per the NASA A0034 interim results.
severity: high
source: nasa-ldef-a0034
where: Results paragraph beginning 'The A276 white coating exposed to atomic oxygen'
- mode: Solar UV darkening of the A276 coating
trigger: LDEF specimen under a severely contaminated window
consequence: Severe degradation of the A276 coating, per the NASA A0034 paper.
severity: moderate
source: nasa-ldef-a0034
where: Results paragraph after the diffuse reflectance statement
- mode: Solar UV damage under a silicone overcoat
trigger: Silicone overcoats (RTV670 and OI650) used to protect A276 on LDEF
consequence: The overcoat prevented material loss but allowed, presumably, solar UV damage of the A276 coating, per the S0069 report.
severity: moderate
source: nasa-ldef-s0069
where: Section 'RTV670 and OI650 Silicone Overcoats on A276'
side_effects: []
handling:
- text: Acktar's table gives no handling step. The Modus Advanced article says that for most substrates a primer should be applied to ensure adhesion, and the technical data sheet is cited as the source of that advice.
source: modus-a276-blog
where: Adhesion and application text
- text: No manufacturer technical data sheet or safety data sheet for AEROGLAZE A276 was read in this run. The Socomore and Lord sites were not reached, so cure temperature, pot life and handling steps are not recorded from a primary source.
source: silmid-leaflet
where: Leaflet contact block (no data sheet was reachable)
mitigations:
- text: The S0069 report says silicone overcoats prevented material loss on A276 on LDEF, but they allowed solar UV damage, so an overcoat trades erosion for UV darkening.
source: nasa-ldef-s0069
where: Section 'RTV670 and OI650 Silicone Overcoats on A276'
uses:
- application: thermal-control
device: Spacecraft thermal control topcoat, gloss white
example: The Socomore leaflet says the AEROGLAZE topcoats listed, which include A276, have withstood the space environment, and it names NASA's Hubble Telescope, the Space Shuttle program and the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) among notable applications.
source: silmid-leaflet
where: Introduction paragraph, 'Low outgassing thermal control coating systems'
- application: thermal-control
device: Surfaces evaluated for planetary missions
example: Acktar's page lists Aeroglaze 276 among white thermal control paints evaluated by ITL for planetary missions, in tests that included vacuum and dust, but prints no A276-specific results for those tests.
source: acktar-thermal-control
where: Section 3.5, 'Application of thermal control paints in planetary missions'
supply:
- subject: Titanium dioxide pigment (the pigment named for A276 in Acktar Table 1)
demand: No production or market figure for AEROGLAZE A276 was found in any source read. Acktar's Table 1 names Lord Corp., USA as the manufacturer, the S0069 report names Lord Chemical Co., and the Socomore leaflet lists A276 with Socomore contact details. These sources disagree about the maker, so none is treated as settled.
routes: 'USGS 2026: the United States is heavily reliant on imports of titanium mineral concentrates, yet it was a net exporter of TiO2 pigments.'
producers: []
critical_lists: []
substitutes: []
source: usgs-titanium-2026
where: Titanium summary, Domestic Production and Use, and Salient Statistics table
documents:
- title: Silmid, Space and optical coatings leaflet (English), Socomore Aeroglaze TOPCOATS table
type: datasheet
url: https://www.silmid.com/Documents/Brochures/Space-coatings_leaflet_english.pdf
- title: Acktar, Thermal control coatings page (Tables 1, 3 and 6)
type: datasheet
url: https://acktar.com/thermal-control-coatings/
- title: Modus Advanced blog, Aeroglaze A276 replacement coating (competitor article)
type: datasheet
url: https://www.modusadvanced.com/resources/blog/aeroglaze-a276-polyurethane-white-coating-replacement
- title: Linton and Kamenetzky, Second LDEF Post-Retrieval Symposium, Interim Results of Experiment A0034
type: report
url: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19930019094/downloads/19930019094.pdf
year: 1993
- title: Wilkes, Miller, Mell, LeMaster and Zwiener, The Performance of Thermal Control Coatings on LDEF and Implications to Future Spacecraft
type: report
url: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19940026508/downloads/19940026508.pdf
year: 1994
- title: PubChem compound summary, Titanium dioxide, CID 26042
type: database
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Titanium-dioxide
- title: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Titanium
type: report
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-titanium.pdf
year: 2026
gaps:
- 'Total atomic-oxygen fluence for the Acktar Table 3 erosion rows: the figure is printed in the table title in exponent form, so it is not copied (rule against exponent values).'
- 'Electrical resistivity: the leaflet prints ''non-conductive'' for A276, which is not a number, so it is not recorded.'
- 'Operating temperature range: the Modus article prints ''Not fully specified'', and no other source read gives a range, so none is recorded.'
- 'Technical data sheet and safety data sheet: the Socomore, Silmid and Lord pages did not yield a readable datasheet in this run, so cure temperature, pot life, pigment share, density and full handling steps are not recorded from a primary source.'
- 'Thermal emittance disagrees between sources: the Socomore leaflet prints normal emissivity 0.91, and Acktar Table 6 prints thermal emittance 0.880 with no conditions; both are recorded side by side and not merged.'
- 'Solar absorptivity disagrees between sources: the leaflet and the Modus article agree on 0.23, but Acktar Table 6 prints 0.170; the difference is not explained by any source read.'
- 'Who makes A276: Acktar Table 1 says Lord Corp., USA; the S0069 report says Lord Chemical Co.; the Socomore leaflet lists A276 under Socomore; the Modus article names no manufacturer. No source resolves this.'
- 'A276 composition: binder chemistry, isocyanate, polyol and TiO2 share are not printed in any source read, so the recipe parts have no shares.'
- Outgassing from the NASA outgassing database or ASTM E595 for A276 was not read; only the leaflet's TML and CVCM are recorded, with its modified-schedule footnote.
- Water vapour regain, humidity ageing and chemical resistance beyond the Modus article's general statement were not found in any source read.
- 'Supply: production or market figures for A276 and its raw materials, and critical-mineral status of titanium dioxide in the list read, were not found in any source read.'
- Isocyanate content and GHS classification of the formulated A276 paint were not found; the SDS was not reached.
- LDEF exposure durations for the A276 specimens were not stated in the passages read.
- Property names atomic_oxygen_erosion, atomic_oxygen_mass_change, thermal_emittance, solids_content, dry_film_thickness, voc_content and cure_time are not in spores/property-canon.yaml, so short snake_case names are used for them. The solar_absorptance, normal_emittance, total_mass_loss and cvcm names are also outside the canon list.
sources:
silmid-leaflet:
title: Space and optical coatings, Socomore Aeroglaze leaflet (English), distributed by Silmid
id: Silmid space-coatings leaflet, TOPCOATS table (AEROGLAZE A276)
url: https://www.silmid.com/Documents/Brochures/Space-coatings_leaflet_english.pdf
kind: datasheet
license: manufacturer leaflet, linked not reproduced
acktar-thermal-control:
title: Acktar, Thermal control coatings page (Tables 1, 3 and 6)
id: Acktar thermal control coatings page, Table 1 row 8, Table 3 row A276, Table 6 row A276, Section 3.5
url: https://acktar.com/thermal-control-coatings/
kind: web
license: web page, linked not reproduced
modus-a276-blog:
title: Modus Advanced, Aeroglaze A276 replacement coating blog post (competitor article)
id: Modus Advanced blog, property list for Aeroglaze A276 and adhesion text
url: https://www.modusadvanced.com/resources/blog/aeroglaze-a276-polyurethane-white-coating-replacement
kind: web
license: competitor marketing article, linked not reproduced
nasa-ldef-a0034:
title: Second LDEF Post-Retrieval Symposium, Interim Results of Experiment A0034
id: Linton and Kamenetzky, NASA MSFC, NTRS 19930019094
url: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19930019094/downloads/19930019094.pdf
year: 1993
kind: report
license: NASA public document
nasa-ldef-s0069:
title: The Performance of Thermal Control Coatings on LDEF and Implications to Future Spacecraft
id: Wilkes, Miller, Mell, LeMaster and Zwiener, NASA N94-31013, NTRS 19940026508
url: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19940026508/downloads/19940026508.pdf
year: 1994
kind: report
license: NASA public document
pubchem-tio2:
title: Titanium dioxide, PubChem CID 26042, GHS classification and NIOSH excerpt
id: PubChem compound summary, CID 26042
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Titanium-dioxide
kind: database
license: PubChem public record
usgs-titanium-2026:
title: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Titanium
id: USGS MCS 2026, titanium chapter, Domestic Production and Use, Salient Statistics
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-titanium.pdf
year: 2026
kind: report
license: US government public domain
wikipedia-polyurethane:
title: Polyurethane, Wikipedia
id: Polyurethane article, Lead, Health and safety, Degradation and environmental fate
url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyurethane
kind: web
license: CC BY-SA 4.0, linked not reproduced
license: CC-BY-4.0
updated: '2026-11-01'
review:
status: draft
method: assistant
checked_values: 12
unreachable: 2
caveats: 4
note: Values were read by an AI assistant on 2026-11-01 from the pages and PDFs named in each entry. The Socomore product pages were not reached and no A276 technical data sheet was found, so the leaflet values are the primary record. Acktar Table 6 disagrees with the leaflet on solar absorptance and emittance, and both are kept. The Modus Advanced figures come from a competitor's marketing article. The LDEF papers give no numbers for A276 in the passages read.
story:
recipe:
line: AEROGLAZE A276 is a moisture-curing polyurethane coating with titanium dioxide pigment, per the Acktar Table 1 entry. Polyurethanes are typically made by reacting a diisocyanate with a polyol, per Wikipedia. The A276 formulation, its isocyanate, its polyol and the pigment share are not printed in any source read.
parts:
- name: Polyurethane binder
role: Moisture-curing polyurethane binder, the film-forming part of the paint; the NASA A0034 paper says the A276 binder eroded completely under atomic oxygen on the LDEF leading edge
share_note: not printed in any source read
- name: Titanium dioxide pigment
role: White pigment named in Acktar Table 1 as the pigment of Aeroglaze 276 White Gloss
share_note: not printed in any source read
risk_groups:
- title: For people
lead: The PubChem entry for titanium dioxide, the pigment named for A276, carries a suspected-carcinogen statement for the pure pigment, and Wikipedia cites OSHA for isocyanate sensitization in polyurethanes.
level: 2
verdict: Pigment and isocyanate hazard, not measured for A276
points:
- label: Pigment
line: PubChem lists a GHS hazard statement, 'Suspected of causing cancer', for titanium dioxide, while its ECHA entry is Not Classified.
- label: Isocyanates
line: Wikipedia states that isocyanates used to make polyurethanes are known skin and respiratory sensitizers, according to OSHA. No source read says whether A276 contains one.
- title: If it fails
lead: In orbit, the failure route in these sources is atomic oxygen erosion of the binder, measured on LDEF.
points:
- label: Atomic oxygen
line: On the LDEF leading edge the A276 binder eroded completely, but the diffuse reflectance stayed relatively unchanged, per the NASA A0034 interim results.
- label: Silicone overcoats
line: The S0069 report says silicone overcoats stopped the material loss but allowed solar UV damage of the A276 coating.
why: AEROGLAZE A276 is a gloss white polyurethane topcoat for spacecraft thermal control. The Socomore leaflet prints a solar absorptivity of 0.23 and a normal emissivity of 0.91 for it, with a TML of 0.99 % and a CVCM of 0.08 %. Acktar's page gives a different solar absorptance of 0.170 and thermal emittance of 0.880 without conditions, so the two sets are kept apart.
uses:
- where: Spacecraft thermal control
line: The Socomore leaflet lists NASA's Hubble Telescope, the Space Shuttle program and the LDEF among notable applications of the AEROGLAZE topcoats, which include A276.
- where: Planetary mission test
line: Acktar lists Aeroglaze 276 among white thermal control paints evaluated by ITL for planetary missions, in tests that included vacuum and dust, without printing A276 results.
can_do:
- label: Reflect sunlight
value: 0.23 solar absorptivity
benchmark: solar_absorptance
line: The Socomore leaflet prints a solar absorptivity of 0.23 for AEROGLAZE A276. Acktar's summary table prints 0.170 for the same paint with no conditions, so the two are not merged.
- label: Radiate heat
value: 0.91 normal emissivity
benchmark: normal_emittance
line: The Socomore leaflet prints a normal emissivity of 0.91 for AEROGLAZE A276. Acktar's Table 6 prints a thermal emittance of 0.880, which is a different figure from a different source.
- label: Stay low in outgassing
value: 0.99 % TML and 0.08 % CVCM
benchmark: total_mass_loss
line: The leaflet prints a TML of 0.99 % and a CVCM of 0.08 % for AEROGLAZE A276, both obtained by a modified cure or bake-out schedule.
compare: The Socomore leaflet and the Modus article agree on a solar absorptivity of 0.23 for A276, while Acktar Table 6 prints 0.170 with no test conditions, and the leaflet and Acktar's thermal emittance of 0.880 are not the same measure. The black sister topcoat Z306 is in its own profile; it is a different paint, so it is not compared here. Test schedules and film thicknesses differ between sources, so none of these rows is a ranking.
compare_rows:
- scope: material
label: Solar absorptance
benchmark: solar_absorptance
- scope: material
label: Normal emittance
benchmark: normal_emittance
- scope: material
label: Total mass loss
benchmark: total_mass_loss
handling:
- Check the current manufacturer's technical data sheet and safety data sheet, since neither was readable in this run.
- Treat the leaflet's TML and CVCM as values from a modified cure or bake-out schedule, not as the result for a standard flight cure.
- Plan for a primer on most substrates, as the Modus article says the technical data sheet advises.
- Plan for isocyanate and pigment hazards in the handling plan until the formulated paint's SDS is checked.
good_for:
- 'Gloss white thermal-control surfaces: solar absorptivity 0.23 and normal emissivity 0.91 as printed in the Socomore leaflet.'
- 'Low-outgassing white coatings: TML of 0.99 % and CVCM of 0.08 % as printed in the leaflet, under a modified bake-out schedule.'
watch_out:
- 'Atomic oxygen: on the LDEF leading edge the A276 binder eroded completely, per the NASA A0034 paper.'
- 'Solar UV: silicone overcoats stopped material loss on A276 but allowed UV damage, per the S0069 report.'
- 'Source conflict: solar absorptance 0.23 in the leaflet versus 0.170 in Acktar Table 6, with no conditions for the second.'
- No temperature range, cure temperature or A276 humidity result was read, so those operating limits are not recorded.
verdict: AEROGLAZE A276 is a gloss white polyurethane coating with a solar absorptivity of 0.23 and a normal emissivity of 0.91 in the Socomore leaflet, and TML and CVCM of 0.99 % and 0.08 % under a modified bake-out. Acktar prints different optical values, and LDEF showed the binder eroding under atomic oxygen. Its operating range, cure temperature and any humidity data were not found in any source read.
References
Every number above carries a reference number. Click one to see the source and where in it the value comes from.
| # | Source | Type | Year | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Space and optical coatings, Socomore Aeroglaze leaflet (English), distributed by Silmid | datasheet | 6 values | ||
| Acktar, Thermal control coatings page (Tables 1, 3 and 6) | web | 6 values | ||
| Modus Advanced, Aeroglaze A276 replacement coating blog post (competitor article) | web | 5 values | ||
| Second LDEF Post-Retrieval Symposium, Interim Results of Experiment A0034 | report | 1993 | 5 values | |
| The Performance of Thermal Control Coatings on LDEF and Implications to Future Spacecraft | report | 1994 | 3 values | |
| Titanium dioxide, PubChem CID 26042, GHS classification and NIOSH excerpt | database | 2 values | ||
| USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Titanium | report | 2026 | 1 value | |
| Polyurethane, Wikipedia | web | 2 values |
Updated