Development and Fabrication of Highly Conductive High Aspect Ratio Nanoflakes for Infrared Obscurant Applications

Infrared obscurants are commonly used to screen soldiers and assets from enemy threat. In order to improve this countermeasure, materials superior to currently used brass and graphite flakes are required. Nano-thick metallic flakes have recently been demonstrated to achieve superior performance in terms of mass extinction, which likely will lead to a higher Figure of Merit defined by the US Army. Similar metallic flakes are made at tonnage scales for demanding applications such as electronics. Phase I demonstrated metallic flake species with mass extinction coefficients relative to brass exceeding the target of at least four times that of brass flake. Phase II will demonstrate a process that can be used for commercial scale production, as well as address dissemination issues needed to further enhance the Figure of Merit. NanoDynamics will deliver several samples to the Army for chamber and grenade testing. Teaming will be with Clarkson University, a legacy group in the Obscurants research community; as well as IIMAK, a global leader in the manufacturing and development of printing, imaging, and marking consumable supplies.