Infrared stealth material by a simple coating method
As the infrared stealth effect is affected by both temperature and infrared emissivity, microcapsules with both temperature control and low emissivity were prepared. Coated fabric showed good infrared stealth and practical use performance.
With the rapid development of infrared detection technology, the development of infrared stealth products has become a desirable possibility.
Infrared stealth effect is affected by both temperature and infrared emissivity, but most of the previous studies focus on a single factor, which limits the effectiveness of the products. Researchers have now prepared double-shell microcapsules (DSMs) with both temperature control and low infrared emissivity. It firstly uses eicosane as the phase change material (PCM) and melamine, urea and formaldehyde (MUF) as the shell material to form microcapsules. Then, polyaniline (PANI) is deposited on the surface of these microcapsules to form DSMs.
Obvious infrared stealth effect
After coating the DSMs onto polyester, the as prepared fabric can be cooled down by a maximum of 11.2 °C compared to the untreated fabric, and the temperature control process can last for 27 min. Featured with temperature control by PCM and low emissivity by PANI, the infrared camera image shows that the fabric has an obvious infrared stealth effect.
The study has been published in Progress in Organic Coatings, Volume 159, October 2021.
