VantaBlack: The Blackest Paint In The World
Vantablack stands out as more than just a typical paint; it’s a distinctive coating material renowned for being among the darkest coatings achievable. Its nanotube complex structure allows it to absorb nearly all visible light. Despite its exceptional properties, applying Vantablack is a complex and delicate process, and its availability is limited, particularly in the art world.
In response to these challenges, Stuart Semple took matters into his own hands and developed an extraordinarily black paint. Over time, he has fine-tuned the formula, enhancing its performance and making it accessible to a wider audience. His latest creation, Black 4.0, appears poised to outshine all other black paints, marking a significant advancement in the quest for the darkest shade.
The inception of this endeavor was marked by a delightfully defiant spirit. Upon learning that Anish Kapoor had secured exclusive rights as the sole artistic user of Vantablack, Stuart Semple felt compelled to take action. Seven years ago, he embarked on a mission to craft his own ultra-black paint, surpassing the capabilities of conventional options on the market. Since his initial release, Semple has consistently introduced black paints that not only absorb more light but also exhibit a depth of darkness unparalleled by any competitors.
With the introduction of Black 4.0, Semple has elevated the standards to a new pinnacle. In a conversation with Hackaday, he elaborated on the remarkable performance of the new paint, available through his Culture Hustle website. Semple stated, “Black 4.0 absorbs an astonishing 99.95% of visible light, which is about as close to full light absorption as you’ll ever get in a paint.”
He highlighted that this surpasses the performance of Vantablack’s S-Vis spray-on product, achieving 99.8%, as well as his previous Black 3.0 paint. These figures are indeed impressive, and there is a keen interest in witnessing Black 4.0 undergo testing against other options in the realm of ultra-black materials.
While the percentage difference may seem marginal, it translates into a significant impact. In preliminary tests, the enhanced capabilities of the new paint have opened up possibilities for captivating visual effects due to its heightened light absorption. When subjected to indoor lighting, an object coated in Black 4.0 can exhibit a mesmerizing quality, appearing to lack any surface texture and resembling a nearly featureless black void.
Placing an item covered in Black 4.0 on a surface treated with the same paint results in a virtual disappearance; the customary reflections and shadows that aid our perception of 3D geometry are engulfed by the profound blackness, creating a striking visual effect.
In addition to its heightened light absorption, the paint has undergone significant improvements in usability compared to Semple’s previous releases. In many applications, a single coat of Black 4.0 suffices. Semple notes, “It feels much nicer to use, it’s much more stable, more durable, and obviously much blacker.” He further adds, “The 3.0 would occasionally separate and on rare occasions collect little salt crystals at the surface, that’s all gone now.”
The enhanced performance can be attributed to a revamped formulation of the paint’s “super-base” resin, which carries the pigment and mattifying compounds responsible for the paint’s rich, dreamy darkness. While there have been a few ingredient substitutions compared to previous versions, a crucial factor in the improvement lies in a process change.
Semple explained to Hackaday, “The interesting thing is that although all that helped, it was the process we used to make the paint that gave us the breakthrough, the order we add things, the way we mix them, and the temperature.” This optimized process has played a pivotal role in creating a markedly improved product.
Despite being more durable than its predecessors, Black 4.0 may not withstand prolonged exposure to the elements, according to Semple. While it could be applied to a car, for instance, its long-term durability in such conditions might be limited. Semple expresses particular enthusiasm for applications in astronomy and photography, where the paint’s exceptional light-absorbing properties could help mitigate light leaks and enhance the performance of telescopes and cameras. Additionally, Black 4.0 proves ideal for creating an ultra-black backdrop in photography.
Application is user-friendly, with no need for special methods; Black 4.0 can be applied with a brush, just like its forerunners. Given its remarkable light absorption, concerns about brush marks are minimized. Other application methods, such as rollers or airbrushes, are also suitable.
The journey to create this high-performance black paint was not without its challenges. Semple faced issues like exploding paint canisters, legal threats from competitors, and the departure of a key scientist from the project. Securing supplies of unique and rare ingredients posed its own set of difficulties. Despite these obstacles, Semple persevered and successfully brought the first batches of Black 4.0 to the market.
The initial shipments are scheduled for November, so those eager to acquire this extraordinary paint should act swiftly. While it comes with a higher price tag, such is expected for a product claiming to be the world’s best. For those with substantial plans, Semple offers the paint in bulk quantities of 1 liter and 6 liters, catering to those in need of larger quantities.
