Nippon Electric Glass has developed BDX-3, an ultra-thin cover glass for space applications, reducing ultraviolet transmittance at a wavelength of 300 nm to 0.1%. It has begun selling paid samples and aims for future adoption in mass production.
BDX-3, a new space-use cover glass product developed by Nippon Electric Glass, features enhanced shielding performance to limit ultraviolet transmission compared with the existing BDX-2. At a thickness of 100 μm, transmittance at a wavelength of 300 nm was reduced from the previous 20% to 0.1%.
BDX-3 is designed to produce less colouration than BDX-2 and to suppress colouration caused by radiation. At around 400 nm, BDX-3 maintains transmittance nearly equivalent to BDX-2, while at 280 nm both products are reported to have transmittance of 0.1%.
For use in space environments, the product is intended primarily to protect satellite solar cells in low Earth orbit and is being considered for applications aimed at extending service life under severe conditions. The company said it aims for mass-production adoption in satellites and other applications.
BDX-3 is positioned as a new product under the Starveil brand. Its design balances enhanced ultraviolet shielding performance with the retention of visible-light transmittance compared with the existing BDX-2.