The basic challenge in the use of solar energy is to transform solar energy radiation into useful heat. AET/Thermafin Manufacturing has set a benchmark for efficiency and quality with the introduction of Crystal Clear™ solar selective coating.

Crystal Clear™selective coatings increases solar collector efficiency due to its unique optical properties. It has the ability to strongly absorb short-wave light while simultaneously reflecting long-wave light. These intrinsic properties of Crystal Clear™ enable the collector to reach optimum temperature in a minimal amount of time and retain the absorbed heat longer.

The Crystal Clear™ process is based on single-phase nano-technology recently discovered by AET/Thermafin Manufacturing.

The coating is fully protected after its application by using a permanent protective layer serving multiple functions, including anti-reflection, anti-corrosion and manufacturing durability.

With the solar absorptance ranging from 0.94 to 0.96 and the thermal emissivity ranging from 0.04 to 0.09, Crystal Clear™ is a breakthrough technology that will revolutionize solar selective coatings.

Morning Star Collector with Crystal Clear™

Crystal Clear™ Coating Line

The new Crystal Clear™ solar coating is generating great excitement for solar thermal collector manufacturers. This
new process promises to revolutionize solar coatings as we know them today.

Crystal Clear™ possesses significant improvements over other solar coatings, including consistent quality, lower cost
for raw materials, lower power usage and less labor in the manufacturing process, and it is less environmentally threatening.

All of these factors add up to unsurpassed savings for customers and rugged durability for manufacturers.

The Crystal Clear™ project began in August 2001 with the primary goal of developing
a new coating for AET/Thermafin's "in-house" solar products, which would be
more consistent, more efficient and affordable to manufacture. With an assembly
of ‘coating experts’ worldwide, Thermafin Manufacturing is setting the standard in solar coatings with the introduction of Crystal Clear™. Manufacturers are quickly realizing that Crystal Clear™ on an AET/Thermafin absorber, provides better performance and higher quality while also being less expensive through cost savings and reduced cost of manufacture.

With the recent addition of a fiber optic spectrometer to the Crystal Clear™ manufacturing line, Thermafin is now able to monitor optical properties of the coating in real time. This additional control plays a crucial roll in assuring the customer consistent quality each and every time. In addition to the spectrometric analysis, all coated material is thoroughly inspected prior to shipment.

The Crystal Clear™ coating process is based on single-phase nano-technology.

This technology allows the molecular structure to be geometrically optimized, thus creating optimum pathways for short-wave light to be stored and long-wave light to be reflected. The product is fully protected using a permanent, protective layer that acts as an anti-reflective, adds consistent durability for manufacturing, and inhibits corrosion.