From Paint Formulation Optimization to Construction Material Quality Inspection: How Full-Spectrum Reflectance Measurement Is Redefining Industry Standards for Hiding Power Testing
Hiding power has long been a core performance metric for coatings, textiles, optical glass, and other materials. Conventional hiding power testing methods—such as visual comparison against black-and-white checkerboard charts or single-wavelength point measurements—are not only inefficient but also highly susceptible to human error. Crucially, they fail to capture a material’s true hiding performance across diverse lighting conditions. In fact, test results for the same sample can vary by over 5% between different laboratories—a discrepancy that poses significant challenges for downstream quality control and product development.
To resolve the accuracy limitations of traditional hiding power testing, one must first clarify its fundamental nature: hiding power is not merely a unidimensional “light-blocking capability.” Rather, it represents the integrated optical response of a material—including reflection, absorption, and transmission—across the full incident light spectrum. Only by acquiring quantitative optical response data spanning ultraviolet (UV), visible, and near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths can hiding power be rigorously and accurately assessed.
In response to this industry need, Jingyi Optoelectronics has independently developed a reflectance meter that overcomes the inherent constraints of conventional single-wavelength reflectance instruments. Leveraging an integrating sphere-based, full-optical-path acquisition design, the instrument simultaneously measures the full-spectrum reflectance ratio and reflectance curve of solid samples, coatings, and thin films—and concurrently supports colorimetric analysis. A complete set of parameters for a single sample can be delivered in as little as 10 seconds, boosting testing efficiency nearly 30-fold compared to legacy equipment. All measurement logic complies with domestic testing standards, and output data are directly report-ready for factory quality inspection documentation.
In the paint and ink manufacturing sector, R&D personnel historically had to wait for film samples to fully dry before evaluating hiding power using black-and-white charts—a single formulation validation often taking more than 24 hours. By contrast, Jingyi’s reflectance meter enables non-contact, real-time measurement of wet films. Using full-spectrum reflectance curves, it rapidly predicts the current formulation’s hiding performance and identifies wavelength-dependent hiding variations. For instance:
- For outdoor weather-resistant coatings, UV-range blocking efficacy can be validated in parallel;
- For automotive finishes, color hiding consistency across viewing angles can be verified.
As a result, formulation iteration cycles shrink from 1–2 weeks to just 2–3 days—dramatically lowering R&D costs.
In the textile industry, functional fabrics—including blackout curtains and sun-protective apparel—require hiding power extending well beyond the visible spectrum. Consumer demand for infrared thermal insulation and UV protection continues to rise. Traditional single-wavelength reflectometers yield only visible-light opacity data, rendering them inadequate for developing multi-functional fabrics. Jingyi’s reflectance meter allows users to define custom spectral measurement ranges. A single test delivers three key parameters simultaneously: visible-light opacity, UV blocking rate, and NIR reflectance. Beyond standard hiding power QC, this capability empowers manufacturers to develop differentiated products combining “light blocking + thermal insulation + UV protection.” Several partner textile enterprises have leveraged this functionality to achieve 12–18% premium pricing for their functional fabrics.
In optical glass and architectural curtain wall applications—where Low-E glass, smart-tinting glass, and similar products must meet stringent national standards for both hiding power and light transmittance—conventional approaches require two separate measurements: reflectance via a reflectometer and transmittance via a transmissometer. Such sequential measurements introduce significant data-matching errors. Jingyi’s reflectance meter supports customizable incident angles to accommodate varying glass thicknesses and surface gloss levels. A single scan yields synchronized reflectance and transmittance data—and the instrument can integrate seamlessly with factory MES production systems to enable real-time, inline inspection. Consequently, the pre-shipment hiding power nonconformance rate for glass products has dropped from approximately 3% to under 0.5%, substantially reducing post-sale returns and replacements.
Beyond enhancing production-line QC and R&D efficiency, full-spectrum reflectance measurement also provides critical technical support for eco-friendly material development. For example, precise quantification of hiding power enables paint manufacturers to reduce pigment loading by roughly 20%—while maintaining equivalent hiding performance. This reduces raw material costs and cuts carbon emissions and VOC generation associated with pigment production, fully aligning with China’s dual-carbon policy objectives.
As emerging sectors—including new-energy vehicles, smart home systems, and advanced construction materials—continue accelerating, requirements for material hiding power are becoming increasingly application-specific. Examples include:
- EV roof coatings needing balanced visible-light hiding and IR-reflective heat dissipation;
- Photovoltaic backsheet materials requiring simultaneous UV blocking and weather resistance.
Full-spectrum reflectance measurement is thus poised to become the industry-standard solution for hiding power evaluation. Jingyi Optoelectronics remains committed to advancing optical detection technologies tailored to the evolving needs of diverse industries—delivering customized optical inspection solutions that drive quality assurance upgrades and innovation across the entire value chain.
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