Inversion methods from Kiabelka-Munk analysis

Diffuse reflectance spectra of light scattering and absorbing coatings are considered in terms of the Kubelka-Munk theory. Partial reflection of the incident diffuse radiation in the front interface of the coating, and internal reflection of backward diffuse radiation at this interface, are taken into account by means of an inversion method from which the effective scattering and absorption coefficients are obtained. The effect of neglecting these reflections of the diffuse radiation is discussed. Significant differences in the effective scattering and absorption coefficients, computed by inversion from diffuse reflectance spectra, are obtained when they are evaluated taking into account the reflection of the diffuse radiation at the front interface of the coating, in comparison with values obtained from the standard approach which neglects these reflections.