Clear, Colored and Black Anodic Coatings for Passive Thermal Control of the International Space Station

Clear, colored and black anodic coatings with controlled optical properties have been developed for passive thermal control of the International Space Station. Most parts, including the primary truss structure, require a sulfuric acid anodic coating. Space-stable colored anodic coatings were developed for astronaut handrails and positioning aids which require color coding; black anodic coating is specified in limited cases for thermal reasons. To date, many production parts have been anodized with these clear and colored processes. Controlling the optical properties on this variety of parts has required close coordination with suppliers, tight process control and careful evaluation of process data. Ongoing efforts are focused on reducing cost and improving schedule performance.