Black to the eye is not black to a sensor. Most black materials look dark in visible light but reflect considerably more strongly in the near infrared – exactly the range where LiDAR, Time-of-Flight cameras, driver monitoring and machine vision operate. The difference is invisible to the human eye. It shows up in the measurement data.
Musou Black IR Flock Sheet was developed for this problem: an electrostatically flocked rayon material whose carbon-containing fibre structure keeps total reflectance below 1 % across the whole 250–2500 nm range (AOI 8°) – 0.3 % @ 550 nm in visible light and about 0.75 % still at 2500 nm.
Dekoja.net is the official importer of Musou Black materials and Koyo Orient Japan's appointed distributor (Official Distributor) in Finland. We supply the materials directly from the manufacturer and have access to the manufacturer's measurement data, documentation and technical support, including for research and product-development projects. See the manufacturer's Distributors page.
Technical data
- Total reflectance 0.3 % @ 550 nm in visible light · 0.5 % @1500 nm · ≈0.75 % @2500 nm (AOI 8°)
- Working range 250–2500 nm – the only material in our range whose reflectance stays below 1 % across the whole range
- Material: rayon base fabric + electrostatically flocked rayon pile, carbon-containing fibres
- Thickness: 0.9 mm ± 0.2 mm
- Sizes: A4 sheet or roll 950 mm wide, 0.5–20 m
- Mounting: available with adhesive backing or without
- Handling: can be cut, hung and sewn into a curtain
- Certifications: RoHS and REACH
Applications
LiDAR development and sensor calibration
LiDAR systems operate in the near infrared and are sensitive to internal reflections, stray light and back-reflections from the test environment. IR Flock Sheet can be used in test setups, prototype enclosures, optical tunnels and calibration environments – more repeatable measurement conditions mean more comparable development data.
Driver and occupant monitoring (DMS / OMS)
Driver monitoring uses NIR illumination to track the face, gaze and head position under varying lighting. Reflective surfaces in the test setup distort results or produce false signals. A low-reflectance background makes the test conditions for NIR cameras and in-cabin sensors controllable.
Time-of-Flight and 3D cameras
ToF cameras measure differences in light travel time and are sensitive to multipath reflections. Covering non-essential surfaces with IR Flock Sheet reduces sources of error in depth measurement – useful in the development of 3D cameras, robotics and gesture recognition.
Machine vision and automated optical inspection (AOI)
In machine vision systems, reflections and stray light degrade recognition accuracy, particularly when the camera or the illumination works across visible light and the near infrared. As a background, a shield or the inner lining of an inspection station, the material improves contrast and stabilises imaging conditions.
NIR darkrooms, test chambers and NIR photography
Lining for large surfaces, curtains and backdrops for repeatable NIR test environments. The material is flexible and can be sewn into a curtain, so it also suits temporary setups.
An honest limitation – read this before ordering
We do not sell this into the wrong application. Two limitations worth knowing in advance:
- Fibre dust. Fine fibre dust can come loose from the flocking. The manufacturer advises caution if cleanliness is an absolute priority or the material goes inside a precision instrument. For those cases a fibre-free alternative is often better – tell us your application and we will point you to the right material rather than sell you this one.
- No space certification. No outgassing certification (e.g. ASTM E595) has been stated for the material, so it should not be assumed flight-qualified for space applications.
Manufacturer's note: the values are not guaranteed, and there can be slight variation between production lots. Figures marked with an approximation sign (≈) have been read from the manufacturer's 250–2500 nm measurement curve (August 2026). If you are building a measuring instrument, ask us for the numerical values and lot data.
Which material suits which need
| Need | Material | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Near infrared, LiDAR, sensor development | IR Flock Sheet | The only one whose reflectance stays below 1 % in the NIR range as well (250–2500 nm) |
| Visible light, affordably and over a large area | VL Flock Sheet | 0.3 % reflectance @ 550 nm, tolerates contact – but rises steeply from about 700–750 nm |
| Maximum blackness in visible light | KIWAMI | 99.905 % absorption – reflectance rises steeply from about 800 nm, so not for IR use |
| Public space, fire inspection | Fabric FR | Flame-retardant version for theatres and events |
| A rigid object or a shaped surface | Musou Black paint | Applied directly to the piece, including 3D shapes |
Start with a sample
We always recommend an A4 sample before a large order: measure the material with your own sensor at your own wavelength before committing to metres. Tell us the application and the wavelength range and we will send the sample and the quotation together.
Order an A4 sample or request a quote for your project →
Include in your message: the application, the wavelength range, the size or number of metres needed, adhesive or no adhesive, and the schedule. With those details you get a quotation in one round.
For business customers
Dekoja.net (Noin Company Oy) is a Finnish importer and Koyo Orient Japan's appointed distributor. We serve companies, research institutes and educational institutions with quotations and invoicing. We also deliver within the EU.
Tel. +358 50 544 2104 · info@dekoja.net · The full Musou Black range