Reflective coating on the Luna Rossa

[4wings]

Just wonder if anybody has a idea what the reflective coating on the Luna Rossa is and any numbers on surface temperature under direct sunlight?
http://www.sail-world.com/photos_201...631780x519.jpg
http://www.cupinfo.com/images/lr-ac7...cir-0168-1.jpg
http://www.cupinfo.com/en/luna-rossa...ched-12097.php
http://luna-rossa-challenge-2013.americascup.com/en/

As it appears it should keep the laminate and core cooler than non reflective coating
All the best
Michael

[tom28571]

Looks like metalized plastic film to me, maybe thermally shrunk onto the hull.

[Doug Lord]

I've discovered a Company called Alsa that specializes in paint and wraps and they claim to have the only "real" chrome paint. I'm probably going to try there stuff (mirror red) but have no experience with it now. http://www.alsacorp.com/products/mir...a_prodinfo.htm
http://www.alsacorp.com/products/for...e_prodinfo.htm
I looked at this stuff specifically to keep the temperature low-I'm sure it would do that. The temperature on the red color of my car was 160 degrees!

[tomas]

Thanks for that "MirraChrome" link.

[PAR]

Luna Rossa uses a Mylar based film for it's decorative sheathings. It's not real chrome, though I think it's an aluminum coating on the plastic on the film.

We can now actually put real chrome on just about anything (including plastics and wood), but it's real chrome, so it doesn't flex or stretch well, which is why the film folks use different techniques. Plastics have to be stabilized as does wood. Typically, wood will be epoxy coated, then etched for a zinc bath, which then allows the surface to accept a copper plating, which will accept nickle and eventually a chrome over plate (chrome is actually just a protective layer over nickle). Plastics are similar, but the surface etch to prep for an electrically conductive coating, is different. I think they use tin on plastics or possibly aluminum (flakes). I recently had a 'glass part chromed and it costs about the same as having a bumper chromed, looks exactly the same and is electrically conductive after chroming.

[michael pierzga]

They use chrome and metallic finish films on cars and for advertising graphics.

Its probably Avery Dennison Conformable Chrome plastic film.

Several other films available..titanium, carbon, brushed aluminium, red brick, cinder block .....

Evidently its long lasting and not difficult to apply, remove.



http://na.averygraphics.com/AvGrNA_Home.asp


http://

[PAR]

Avery films are PVC and polyester, but other wise similar. They don't last as long as you think, 3 years or so on vertical surfaces, less on horizontal in tropical sunlight.

[michael pierzga]

Three years should do the trick. Those cats are only good for a season.

Tacticaly I'd go for the transparent film...good to be invisible on the race course

[mastcolin]

I saw a 35m that was painted with the chrome look paint.

It fell off once they did sea-trials.

The problem is that you must apply the chromelook stuff on a mirror like finish ie polished topcoat black. This of course ain't the best adhesion promoter. (awlgrip tell you that p400 is verging on too fine for itself. p3000 anyone? )

On a helmet it will probably be no problem. On a boat?

The films are of course another story. I would be intrigued to see if there are any speed benefits to the film on the hull. The film is presumably very hydrophobic. I remember when i was involved in testing silicone coating for underwater use. A race skipper felt his yacht didn't "grip" the water anymore when he was tacking etc.