Beryllium oxide: a frost-preventing insulator

Journal Article · Wed Aug 15 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Optics Letters; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.15.000882· OSTI ID:6521223

Ribbing, C G ^[1]

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1. Solid State Physics, Institute of Technology, Uppsala University, Uppsala (Sweden)

A method is suggested of achieving low outdoor radiative losses by low spectral emittance in the atmospheric window of 8--13 {mu}m, which will reduce dew and frost formation on surfaces exposed to the clear sky. The use of this selectively low emittance makes it feasible to use electrically insulating materials. It is argued that lattice-based reststrahlen bands can be exploited for this purpose. The observation is made that hexagonal beryllium oxide has a strong reststrahlen band that covers most of the primary atmospheric window. Results from experiments with polycrystalline samples demonstrate that bulk beryllium oxide is equally effective for dew and frost prevention as glass coated with conducting tin oxide.

• OSTI ID: 6521223
• Journal Information: Optics Letters; (USA), Journal Name: Optics Letters; (USA) Vol. 15:16; ISSN OPLED; ISSN 0146-9592
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
BERYLLIUM COMPOUNDS
BERYLLIUM OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
COOLING
DEW POINT
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRICAL INSULATORS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EMISSIVITY
EQUIPMENT
EVALUATION
FROST
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ICE
INFRARED RADIATION
INHIBITION
INTERMEDIATE INFRARED RADIATION
MATERIALS TESTING
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIATIONS
RADIATIVE COOLING
SPECTRAL REFLECTANCE
SURFACE PROPERTIES
SURFACES
TESTING
VAPOR CONDENSATION
WATER