A Lightweight, Elastic, and Thermally Insulating Stealth Foam With High Infrared‐Radar Compatibility

Abstract

Abstract The development of infrared‐radar compatible materials/devices is challenging because the requirements of material properties between infrared and radar stealth are contradictory. Herein, a composite of poly(3, 4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) coated melamine foam is designed to integrate the advantages of the dual materials and the created heterogeneous interface between them. The as‐designed PEDOT:PSS@melamine composite shows excellent mechanical properties, outstanding thermal insulation, and improved thermal infrared stealth performance. The relevant superb radar stealth performance including the minimum reflection loss value of −57.57 dB, the optimum ultra‐wide bandwidth of 10.52 GHz, and the simulation of radar cross section reduction value of 17.68 dB m2, can be achieved. The optimal specific electromagnetic wave absorption performance can reach up as high as 3263.02 dB·cm3 g−1. The average electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness value can be 30.80 dB. This study provides an approach for the design of high‐performance stealth materials with infrared‐radar compatibility.

Keywords

• electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding
• infrared‐radar compatibility
• microwave absorption
• radar cross section
• thermal insulation