Digital Printing With Near Infrared Reflectance Properties for Rapid Deployment of Region

In Phase 1, ROTHTEC proposes to apply its extensive experience and technology in the digital printing of camouflage textiles to develop new NIR inks and processes to test the feasibility of meeting both shade and NIR in three distinct NIR reflectance levels (high, medium and low) on a digitally printed textile. These three levels are required to provide the disruptive pattern needed to break up a soldier’s silhouette in a specified region or terrain. Our work will focus on a result that shows a difference of 10-20% reflectance among the three NIR levels. For Phase I, we will prove the feasibility of our approach by (1) developing processes and NIR inks and (2) demonstrating digital printing of a single substrate (50% Nylon/50% Cotton) with these processes and inks. In Phase II we will extend the range of substrates printed to include 100% Nylon, and demonstrate digital printing of military camouflage patterns, such as the US Army’s Universal print to meet shade and NIR requirements.