How to Choose the Right Black

The black products in our shop are mainly used in industrial applications to prevent unwanted stray light reflections. The products are available in various material types such as polyurethane sponge, flock sheet, and water-based acrylic paint. We will introduce the features of each type so you can choose the right black to best suit your needs.

Classification by Material

Currently, we offer 3 different materials for anti-reflection treatment: Our polyurethane sponge "Fineshut" series, our flock sheet series, and our "Musou Black" water-based acrylic paint.

The main uses for our products include:

Fineshut - internal parts of optical equipment.
Flock sheets - auxiliary materials such as black backdrops for photography.
Musou Black - temporary anti-reflective treatment for prototype development.

Material	Polyurethane Sponge	Flock sheet	Paint
Product	Fineshut SP Fineshut KIWAMI	VL Flock sheet IR Flock sheet	Musou Black
Features	Strong light absorption performance in both visible light and infrared light ranges. Our most durable product that does not easily produce dust, and therefore ideal to be used as an internal material in optical equipment.	More affordable than our Fineshut series while still offering very high light absorption performance. However, be wary of the risk of dust generation due to fiber-hair loss.	Excellent visible-light absorption performance; however, the coating is very fragile and prone to produce dust when handled.
Applications	Internal components of optical equipment. Such as cameras and lenses.	Blackout curtains and backdrops for photography and videography.	Temporary anti-reflection treatment. Hobby use.

Total-Reflectance Rate Comparison

Product name	UV 250nm	VL 500nm	N-IR 950nm	N-IR 1500nm
Fineshut SP	1.7%	1.2%	1.2%	1.4%
Fineshut KIWAMI	0.8%	0.7%	0.7%	0.7%
VL Flock Sheet	0.5%	0.3%	10.0%	43.7%
IR Flock Sheet	0.3%	0.3%	0.3%	0.5%
Musou Black (Air-brush)	0.8%	0.6%	2.0%	10.7%
Musou Black (Brush)	1.3%	1.0%	3.5%	17.6%

We compare the total reflectance values of our materials based on the AOI 8° index. Total reflectance is the measurement result of combining both diffuse reflection and specular reflection measurements. AOI 8° means that the light is incident at an angle of 8° from the normal.

Based on this index, our "Fineshut" series stably absorbs light from the ultraviolet to the near-infrared light range. This performance is achieved by the uneven structure derived from the foaming process and the composition of carbon atoms blended into the resin.

We also offer two types of Flock Sheets. Our "VL Flock Sheet" is inexpensive and provides strong anti-reflection performance in the visible light range.

In contrast, our IR Flock Sheet provides improved ultraviolet and excellent near-infrared anti-reflection performance, which are the weak points of the VL Flock Sheet.

Musou Black's anti-reflection performance will vary depending on the painting method, so please keep that in mind when applying. For the best result, apply Musou Black with an airbrush.

Size and Handling

Product	Max size	Thickness (mm)	Touch durability
Fineshut SP	1000mm x 120m	0.22 or 0.40	Durable
Fineshut KIWAMI	480mm x 280mm	0.37	Semi-durable
VL Flock sheet	950mm x 20m	0.9	Durable
IR Flock sheet	950mm x 50m	0.8	Durable
Musou Black	-	0.05	Fragile

This chart explains the maximum size dimensions and handling durability of each material. Because our Fineshut SP is roll-to-roll molded at a width of 1000mm, it can be supplied in a maximum width of 1000mm. *Please allow up to 2 months lead time for 1000mm width orders.

The maximum dimensions we can provide for our Fineshut KIWAMI is 480mm x 280mm per sheet because it is manufactured one sheet at a time.

The anti-reflective performance of our Fineshut and Flocksheet products do not degrade upon slight contact. However, Musou Black's coating is very delicate and can easily be damaged, resulting in performance degradation. Please be aware that the damaged coating is prone to generate particle dust.

About the Double-sided Tape

Name

Thickness

(mm)

Features

DIC 8103D Black

0.15

Non-woven fabric-based material. Flexible and highly adaptable to curved surfaces. It leaves minimal adhesive residue within a short amount of time, therefore making it easy for re-application. It can be used for a wide range of applications.

DIC #8616UJ Black-50(N)

0.05

PET-based material. When making small-sized parts, if the adhesive tape is too thick, the side profile of the adhesive tape layer may result in unwanted reflections. In such cases, this thinner tape is recommended. *Please note that the release film can be a little tricky to peel off.

The above chart lists the two double-sided adhesive tapes that we use. Both are black, have strong-adhesive properties, and are double-sided with excellent light obstructing properties. In addition to the two types of tape listed here, we can also laminate other types of tape upon request.