WB Coatings developed a combination of robust epoxy primer, polyurethane topcoat and matching clearcoat for the steel structure of the ELT.
WB Coatings – which is a brand belonging to the Mipa Group since 1st January 2023 – has recently announced that its paints have been employed to coat the steel structure of the Extremely Large Telescope - ELT of the European Southern Observatory – ESO.
The ELT, that is currently being assembled in Chile, is considered to be groundbreaking for space exploration: due to go into operation in around five years, it will become the largest telescope for visible and infrared light. When planning the steel structure, the focus was on keeping the telescope stable under all conditions, including strong winds or earthquakes. As a matter of fact, the structure must be absolutely stable to keep the components and equipment precisely aligned. At the same time, however, it must be light enough so that the gigantic ELT does not collapse under its own weight.
The project required the deepest possible black dull matt surface, in order to minimise scattered light and prevent disruption during operation. WB Coatings then developed a combination of a robust epoxy primer, a polyurethane topcoat and the matching clearcoat.
Since the construction was carried out by an international consortium, the products were supplied to two participating companies in Spain and Italy – where the individual steel components were coated before being delivered to Chile for assembly.