Lightweight Radar Absorbing Materials using Functionalized Binders in Aqueous Media

Current radar absorbing materials (RAMs) are heavy and require hazardous materials for processing. Having a lighter weight binder with a suitable morphology, combined with environmentally friendly solvents to produce RAMs would offer significant advantagesin manufacturing and in the field. Fractal Systems, Inc., in collaboration with our aerospace partners, proposes to develop RAMs through manipulation of the polymeric binder and the proper choice of the solvent using existing fillers such as ferrites. InPhase I, we will develop several dispersion formulations for fabrication of coatings and sheets whose absorption characteristics will be determined by our partners. Other characterization techniques will be used to ensure that the overall material qualityis likely to meet the Air Force and end users' requirements. In Phase II of this program, we will optimize the different characteristics of the material for producing practical formulations geared towards making lighter non-hazardous RAMs that will qualifyfor specific applications (one is air-born and another is naval-based). With direct input form and active participation by our aerospace partners, this effort is likely to result in commercially viable products.In addition to stealth aircraft, air-borntargets and naval-based systems, ground-based electronic equipment in the battlefield, low-cost, efficient and lightweight radar absorbing materials can find use for commercial avionics and filtering applications in electronics susceptible to radar/microwave frequencies.