Near-Infrared Absorbing Materials(SOLAMENT™)

Sumitomo Metal Mining’s near-infrared absorbing materials SOLAMENT™︎ (near-infrared absorbing fine particles: CWO™︎) and LaB₆ combine high visible light transmission with strong near-infrared absorption capability. These are original materials invented by our company, with patents trademarks in Japan and abroad.

With Strong Selective Absorption against near-infrared light

SOLAMENT™︎ and LaB₆ selectively absorb near-infrared rays contained in sunlight than conventional materials like ITO and ATO, using a smaller amount. This reduces changes in the physical properties of the mixture. They also have excellent transparency in the visible light range, allowing color retention of pigments for superior coloring.

Product Lineup for Various Applications Sumitomo Metal Mining’s series of near-infrared absorbing materials. If your required specifications are not listed, please feel free to contact us.

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The introduced near-infrared absorbing material SOLAMENT™︎ boasts various thermal management functions, high transparency, and weather resistance, making it suitable for diverse applications. These include window materials to block light and heat, agricultural nets, and textiles that convert absorbed light to heat.

Preventing Temperature Rise in Agricultural Greenhouses

In midsummer, the insides of greenhouses can exceed 40 °C (104 °F), leading to crop damage and stressing workers.
Our Near-Infrared Absorbing Materials SOLAMENT™(Near-infrared absorbing nanoparticles: CWO™) can cut light of wavelengths between 850–1,200 nm which is the source of sunlight’s heat, and transmit light in the range of 400–850 nm, which is necessary for crop photosynthesis.
Our dispersions can be applied to PET films, fibers, and other materials used in agricultural house materials cutting only the light, which causes a rise in room temperature while transmitting light necessary for photosynthesis of crops and light that the human eye can recognize.

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CWO™ with High Chemical Resistance and Excellent Near-Infrared Absorption

Our near-infrared absorbing material SOLAMENT™(Near-infrared absorbing nanoparticles: CWO™) is an inorganic nanomaterial with high visible light transmittance that efficiently absorbs near-infrared rays.
Nanoencapsulation of CWO™ adds high-temperature alkali resistance. It reduces the surface activity of nanoparticles and suppresses the penetration of water molecules by coating the surface of the nanoparticles with a resin layer.
We have developed CWO™ nano capsules that maintain the characteristic functions of CWO™ and have newly added high chemical resistance.
Nano-encapsulated CWO™ maintains the characteristic functions of CWO™ and can withstand harsh high-temperature alkaline solutions. It has a wide range of potential applications.

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Blocking Infrared Rays Safely and Inexpensively

Since the near-infrared spectral distribution of sunlight becomes intense on the wavelength between 800–1,200 nm, nanoparticles of indium tin oxide (ITO) and antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO) can not entirely cut down the light in this range.
In addition, ITO contains indium, which is a precious metal. Furthermore, ITO was designated as a specified chemical substance due to its toxicity.
Our Near-Infrared Absorbing Materials that are SOLAMENT™(Near-infrared absorbing nanoparticles: CWO™) and LaB6 have a high shielding capability from near-infrared rays under 1,400 nm wavelength enabling high shielding performance with a small amount of these materials. In addition, there is no hazardous information about CWO™ and LaB6 so far.

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What are the characteristics of near-infrared absorbing materials?

Our Near-infrared absorbing materials are characterized as inorganic materials that have the character of strongly absorbing light in the wavelength range of 800 to 1,200 nm, which accounts for nearly 40% of the energy of solar radiation.

Can it absorb near-infrared rays and remain transparency?

Our Near-infrared absorbing materials combine high visible light transparency with strong selective absorption of near-infrared light, selectively absorbing more near-infrared light in sunlight.
Because of their high transparency and strong heat absorption, they can be used in window materials.

What is the use for near-infrared absorbing materials?

Taking advantage of its properties to selectively absorb high wavelength regions, it is used in automotive and residential window materials and in agricultural plastic greenhouses for heat shielding applications.
In recent years, it has also spread to applications where it is kneaded into fibers.