Water-based acrylic latex paint transmissive in the nir and swir bands

A process of formulating a water-based acrylic latex paint, the process comprising:

• pre-mixing a pigment that is transmissive in the NIR and SWIR bands with a dispersing agent that is transmissive in the NIR and SWIR bands, said mixture having a dispersant-over-pigment (DOP) ratio between 0.5 and 1.5;
• applying mechanical crushing energy to de-aggregate the pigment particles;
• and
• mixing with a solvent comprising water, an acrylic latex binder that is transmissive in the NIR and SWIR bands and a rheology modifier;
• wherein the paint dries at ambient temperature and pressure to form a coating in which the pigment has a low concentration and is highly dispersed throughout to absorb in the visible band to produce a color and is transmissive in the NIR and SWIR bands.

An infrared transmissive product, comprising:

• a body configured to cover a transmitting unit and a receiving unit for NIR and SWIR rays in an IR sensor, wherein the body includes
• a base having a transmissivity that spans the NIR and SWIR bands;
• and
• a coating between 2 and 4 mil thick on a rear or front surface of the base, the coating layer comprising a water-based acrylic latex paint including a mixture of a de-aggregated pigment of 2.6-5.2% by weight and a dispersing agent that are transmissive in the NIR and SWIR bands, said mixture having a dispersant-over-pigment (DOP) weight ratio of between 0.5 and 1.5, and a rheology modifier,
• wherein the paint cures at ambient temperature and pressure to form the coating in which the pigment has a low concentration and is highly dispersed throughout to absorb in the visible band to produce a color and is transmissive in the NIR and SWIR bands.