Multi-Functional, Light-Cured, Anti-Tamper Coating

The DoD has identified the need for advanced Anti-Tamper (AT) technologies to protect critical U.S. technologies from exploitation via reverse engineering. Current anti-tamper coating techniques commonly involve the use of flame-sprayed ceramic coatings for electronic components, which can cause thermal damage to underlying circuitry during application at elevated temperature. Infoscitex (IST) proposes to develop a sprayable, light-curable, anti-tamper coating (LCATC) that cures rapidly at ambient temperature into an adherent, multifunctional tamper-resistant coating. This low temperature cure capability coating system protects sensitive electronic components from potential thermal damage. The cured LCATC is hard, adherent, opaque to visible and infrared light, and obscures visualization by X-rays. It adheres strongly to electronic components and substrate, and is so durable that attempts to remove the coating by mechanical or chemical means destroys all evidence of underlying circuits and interconnects. In Phase I, IST will develop the LCATC, spray-coat simulated electronic component test specimens and demonstrate the ability to light-cure the LCATC into durable coatings that resist tampering via optical, mechanical and chemical methods. In Phase II, IST will refine and scale-up the LCATC, produce coated electronic components and initiate commercialization.