INNOVATIVE MICROWAVE ABSORBING PAINT SYSTEMS OF LIQUID 100% SOLIDS AND POLYMER POWDER COATINGS FOR MANUAL AND SPRAY APPLICATIONS

THERE IS A PROBLEM OF INTERFERING REFLECTIONS OR GHOSTING IN CERTAIN MICROWAVE BANDS FOR SOME NAVY APPLICATIONS. THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PRESENT EXPLORATORY DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH ARE TO DESIGN AND FORMULATE A MANUAL APPLICATION AND A SPRAY-ON MICROWAVE ABSORBING PAINT, TEST PANELS WILL BE PAINTED AND TESTS WILL BE MADE FOR ABSORBING CHARACTERISTICS. THE FORMULATION WILL INCLUDE LIQUID, 100% SOLIDS AND DRY POWDER COATINGS THAT ARE WEATHERABLE AND DURABLE IN OCEAN CONDITIONS. FOCUS WILL BE ON DEVELOPMENT OF LIGHTWEIGHT COATINGS. THE PROPOSERS HAVE HAD EXPERIENCE WITH EACH OF THE BINDER SYSTEMS, APPLICATION PROCEDURES AS WELL AS BEING ACQUAINTED WITH A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVE ADDITIVES FOR RADAR ABSORBING SYSTEMS. THE INNOVATION IN THIS WORK IS IN THE COMBINATION OF PAINT SYSTEM PROPOSED, DESIGN AND FORMULATION SYSTEMS TO MAINTAIN HOMOGENEITY OF PREPARED MATERIALS COUPLED WITH APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY TO PRODUCE ABSORBING PAINT SYSTEMS. THE PROPOSERS HAVE ON HAND EQUIPMENT TO ASSESS ABSORPTION AND RADAR CROSS SECTION REDUCTION.