Optical layers · Concept visual

DUAL USE / PHOTONIC COATINGS

A thin layer.
A different response.

Engineering how surfaces interact with light and heat

SURFACE ENGINEERING

The surface makes the difference

A coating changes how a material interacts with radiation. SDS Optic combines photonics and optoelectronics to explore this potential across civilian and defence applications.

Manage heat

Thermoreflective coatings are designed to limit heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter.

Adapt the substrate

Glass, aluminium and specialist fabrics open up different directions for coating development.

Explore dual use

Related coating technologies can address thermal protection needs in both civilian and defence settings.

EXPLORE THE PRINCIPLE

Put the coating to work

Switch the season and compare a surface with and without a coating. Follow the heat paths through the glass.

OutsideInside
Less incoming heat.The outer coating reflects part of the incoming thermal radiation, helping limit heat gain while allowing visible light through.Incident heatReflected heat
GlassCoating
Heat transferVisible light

Less incoming heat.

The outer coating reflects part of the incoming thermal radiation, helping limit heat gain while allowing visible light through.

ONE FIELD. MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS.

Choose a context

Explore development directions presented by SDS Optic. Each application requires its own material selection and validation.

Glass facade illustrating architectural applications of coatings
Application image from the SDS Optic presentations

THERMAL MANAGEMENT

More considered use of energy

Thermoreflective coatings for large buildings, designed to reduce unwanted heat gain and loss, with potential to lower heating and cooling demand.

  • Logistics and production halls
  • Shopping centres
  • Large greenhouses
Material focusGlass, aluminium and other substrates

INSIDE THE LAB

The principle meets a physical demonstrator

A glass enclosure, a heat source and temperature measurement make the effect of a coating observable. The supplied presentation describes two experimental approaches.

Glass demonstrator with a lamp used as a heat source
SDS Optic laboratory demonstrator · Source photograph
Temperature interval22–35 °C

Observe the temperature rise.

The demonstrator was heated from 22 °C to 35 °C. Time and supplied power were measured to compare the energy used by coated and uncoated configurations.

Laboratory-scale setup. These test conditions do not establish energy savings in a full-size building.

DEVELOP WITH SDS OPTIC

What could your surface do?

Tell us about your material, operating environment and intended application. Let’s discuss the next development step.