Message text written by INTERNET:owner-canard-aviators@betaweb.com
>EFFECT OF COLOR ON SOLAR ENERGY ABSORPTION
EXTREME HEAT ABSORPTION CAN DAMAGE RADIOS, INSTRUMENTS, AND DEFORM
COMPOSITE AIRCRAFT. I HAVE HEARD THAT BURT RUTAN REFUSES TO FLY IN
AN EZ NOT PAINTED WHITE.
DuPont provides the following data (adapted from SOARING MAGAZINE).
AMBIENT AIR
TEMP (F) COLOR AND PEAK SURFACE TEMPERATURE (F)
WHITE YELLOW BLUE ORANGE RED GREEN BLACK
80 128 137 140 163 178 180 196
90 140 146 152 176 190 192 208
95 145 159 165 180 195 200 215
100 150 154 158 188 200 206 221
110 161 170 177 200 215 219 235
Lay-ups of epoxy-fiberglass (without heat curing) can deform at 165
degrees F. A black surface can reach 165 degrees when ambient
temperature is 55 degrees F. A white surface will not reach 165
degrees in Florida.
Al Hodges
Miami, FL
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