Geopolymer Electromagnetic Protection Coatings for Artillery Projectiles

This Phase I proposal addresses the need identified in Topic Number A244-041 of the Army FY2024.4 SBIR solicitation on electromagnetic protection coatings (EMPCs) for artillery projectiles.  The need to develop EMPC solutions and ways to integrate them onto munitions becomes increasingly critical for the Army to advance the development of extended range precision artillery and long-range missiles, while meeting the key need to penetrate adversary defensive capabilities and engage key targets at those extended ranges,. The Army wants novel solutions of integrating EMPCs that can survive the mechanical shock of gun launch, be applied to conformal surfaces of artillery munitions, withstand high temperatures (HT), but are processed at low temperatures (LT) less than 650°C.  A new wear-resistant conductive (graphene nanotube-filled) geopolymer (GP) coating will be developed for the EMPC application. Unlike conventional conductive screen-printing inks with polymer matrices, geopolymer matrices have excellent mechanical properties to temperatures over 1000°C. The main objective of the proposed research project is to design, model, develop, and demonstrate robust GP-EMPC technology for US Army extended range precision artillery and long-range missiles.  A balanced program of experiments and analysis will be employed to develop and demonstrate methods and processes for designing, simulating, formulating, and fabricating proof-of-concept (POC) GP-EMPCs. The HiFunda/BYU team is uniquely qualified and will leverage its extensive ceramic, GP composite, and RF experience for the proposed project. The first step is to design and RF model POC-GP-EMPCs with VOC inputs from the US Army and DoD prime contractors.   Then GP-EMPC formulations and processes will be developed to fabricate POC-GP-EMPCs.  The final step in the Phase I effort is to characterize the RF performance and mechanical properties of the POC-GP-EMPCs.  The design and processing parameters will be correlated to GP-EMPC RF and mechanical properties as part of the iterative design and process/product development cycle. HiFunda and its TABA provider will work to identify DoD and commercial applications, end users and potential commercialization partners. Future efforts will be defined in a Phase II plan.