ScatCad Optical Scattering Computer Aided Design for the analysis of pigments and paint systems

ScatCAD (Optical Scattering Computer Aided Design)

ScatCad incorporates the effects of multiple scattering radiative transfer into the analysis of light scattering from pigments and paint systems. This is an extension of the Kubelka-Munk type of analysis that has been used in the paint industry for many years. The analysis provides the DHR of pigments and paint systems on substrates and considers wavelengths from the visible to the infrared (0.3 to 25+ microns). The pigments are modeled as a size distribution of solid spheroidal particles or multi-layered spheres, and can be absorptive or non-absorptive (arbitrary refractive index).

ScatCad has the capability to analyze the measured DHR of bulk materials, films and powdered samples and provide estimates of the bulk complex refractive index of the material, which can be used in subsequent paint design analysis.

ScatCad 4.0 is a completely new version of the code, which integrates features of previous versions of the code and provides significant enhancements. Some of the major new features of the code include support for non-spherical pigment particles, genetic algorithm pigment optimization, multilayer/multi-pigment paint definition, and user defined pigment size distributions. The radiative transfer module has been re-written so that BRDF analysis and HDR analysis are more tightly integrated, based on the same single scattering modules.

Key Features

Fully Validated. ScatCad has been validated extensively using the SOC-100, Hemispherical Directional Reflectometer. It has also been well validated by many government and corporate agencies.

Full Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function Analysis. ScatCad 4.0 provides a full BRDF analysis at arbitrary wavelengths in the visible and infrared (0.3 to 25+ microns)

Applications to real paint coatings. The key to successful application of analytical tools to real paint coatings is a comprehensive database of spectral optical constants (n and k) of a wide variety of materials. The data has been obtained from Surface Optics Corporation's in-house data base and literature compilations. The data base supports a number of paint substrate options (e.g., no substrate, constant diffuse reflectance, aluminum, etc.), binders (e.g., alkyd, polyurethane), and pigment core and coating materials (e.g., ceramics, mica, glass, germanium, aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, etc.).

Integration with hardware. ScatCad was designed as an integral software tool of the SOC-100, Hemispherical Directional Reflectometer, which provides the data for the design and evaluation of spectral tailored coatings. Measurements from the SOC-100 are readily processed into optical constants for enhancing the design database, and for comparison of manufactured coatings with the design prediction.

View the ScatCad datasheet

ScatCad BRDF

ScatCad

Highlights

Full BRDF analysis
Spectral Directional Hemispherical Reflectance (DHR) analysis
Optical constant analysis of diffuse powdered materials and multi-layered stacks
BRDF analysis from structured surfaces
Models complex physical phenomena
Multiple scattering radiative transfer
Rough surface scattering
Binder and substrate properties
Pigments can be modeled as size distribution of:
Solid spheroidal particles
Multi-layer spheres
Non-spherical particles
Commercially Available
Exportable
Fully Validated
Validated against measurements of real paint coatings

Export Control

"This item is export controlled and is governed by the US Export Administration Regulations (EAR). The receipt of this software creates regulatory obligations for you if you are exporting these items directly or indirectly out of the United States."

Surface Optics Corporation 11555 Rancho Bernardo Rd.San Diego, CA 92127
Phone: 858.675.7404 Fax: 858.675.2028