Improved black nickel coatings for flat plate solar collectors
A new black nickel formula was developed which had a solar absorptance of 0.92 and an infrared emittance (at 100 C) of less than 0.10 after 14 days at 38 C and 95 percent relative humidity. The electroplating bath and conditions were changed to obtain the more stable coating configuration. The effect of bath composition, temperature, pH, and plating current density and time on the coating composition, optical properties and durability were investigated.