Heat absorbing surface coating

The present invention relates in general to protective coatings, and in particular to a heat absorbing coating comprising micro-encapsulated heat absorbing material such as phase change material dispersed throughout a carrier, and additionally includes a substrate having such a coating and methodology for thermally protecting a substrate. A heat absorbing coating having a plurality of micro-capsules each being an encapsulant shell and a heat absorbing material within the shell, and a carrier adherable to a substrate and throughout which the micro-capsules are dispersed. The heat absorbing material is preferably a phase change material and can be non-limitedly chosen from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polywax, and combinations thereof. Shell material can be a metal such as copper, for example, or a polymer. The carrier can be a sprayable polymer mix which provides significant efficacy in uniform application to a substrate. An inventive substrate structure, such as an aircraft structure for example, has thereon the above-defined coating in an amount sufficient to absorb a sufficient amount of heat from the substrate to substantially inhibit thermal erosion in normal operating environments.