Black paints for far infrared cryogenic use

A cryogenic paint which remains absorptive throughout the infrared has been developed. The paint exhibits excellent surface stability at liquid helium temperature and is resistant to abrasion and flaking. Measurements in a specially constructed cryogenic integrating sphere indicate that the paint is ~92-100% absorptive in the 70-130-micro range. Additional broadband measurements at 60 micro-130 micro, 18 micro-25micro, and 400 micro-1 mm indicate that the paint is ~95% absorptive.