EM Tailored Thoraeus Rubber for SATCOM Sensors with Enhanced Survivability

ABSTRACT: NanoSonic has successfully transitioned our high-strength-to-weight ratio, flexible, yet high strength, aramid-based, noble metal nanoparticle modified metamaterials into EM tailored Thoraeus Rubber (TR) composites. During Phase I, NanoSonic demonstrated ultra-low mass density (0.58 g/cc) Metal Rubber-Kevlar Veil (MR-KV) composites with uniform transmission loss (up to 100 dB loss at 2 18 GHz) that maintain EM properties under mechanical strain down to -50 C, upon extreme heat (blow torch exposure), and at low frequency post irradiation under a 60Co source. These tough composites resist damaging chemicals, are nickel-free to mitigate galvanic corrosion, and shall be transitioned onto Satellite Communication (SATCOM) systems as a simple and cost effective material solution to assure electronics protection (EP) on space-based Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) against harsh natural or manmade EM environments. NanoSonic has partnered with Lockheed Martin (LM) to verify survivability under intense EM and radiation threats. LM shall assist with qualifying TR materials using MIL-STD techniques (e.g. MIL-STD-188-146) to verify shielding effectiveness performance against a variety of radiating EM sources to confirm that it can be utilized with existing aeronautical equipment that requires high levels of EM shielding. BENEFIT: NanoSonic would primarily develop its Metal Rubber modified Kevlar based composites as part of the Thoraeus Rubber (TR) family of materials as a super lightweight shielding alternative to heavy metal containers, metal foils, and other heavy attached shielding structures. The innovative lightweight TR nanocomposites would be primarily transitioned to protect sensors/circuits within space vehicles and aircraft against harsh EM environments. Our unique TR composites shall serve a broad range of military and civilian applications including avionic and communication systems on board commercial aircraft from low energy personal electronic devices to higher onboard stray radar energy. Dual-use military applications for various forms of TR nanocomposites include highly mechanically robust EMI and radiation shielding appliques. Additional applications include lightning strike protection and RF shielding for large area structures and sensors. Additional dual-use civil applications for TR include civilian electronic shielding applications such as cellular phones, sensitive electronics in electronically noisy environments, and sensor systems which may require above average lightweight shielding materials. Additional civil and homeland security applications include garments for the U.S. warfighter, first responders to environments with radiation dispersal devices or dirty bombs, and medical physicians/patients that may be exposed to radiation. Conceptually similar multifunctional nanocomposites are being developed for other applications by NanoSonic based on our Metal Rubber and HybridSil Family of materials, in the electronics, aerospace and defense and biomedical engineering areas. Metal Rubber based materials and textiles are available for sale through our website, www.nanosonic.com, in limited sizes and shapes and with a limited number of properties; and in scaled amounts with custom properties tailored for each customer via contracting.