RADAR- ABSORBENT
COATINGS
Polyurea Radar-Absorbing Materials for Military Applications
COMBINING STEALTH WITH STRENGTH
Radar, or radio detection and ranging, uses radio waves to determine the relative distances, directions, and velocities of distant objects. Radar technology has existed for nearly a century and has experienced the same rapid development and deployment as countless other military technologies. In response, stealth materials have become part and parcel to radar technology; the other side of the same coin, is used to avoid detection and monitoring by radar. Improvements in radar technology and growing geopolitical tensions have put these materials at the forefront of military research and development, where government organizations and large defense contractors spend millions annually to develop and optimize advanced stealth paints and coatings. Better stealth means more successful combat and reconnaissance missions and, most importantly, fewer allied casualties. While new and specialized stealth materials are always in the works, established coatings technologies like polyurea can serve as effective radar-absorbent materials (RAMs) while also providing additional protection from harsh environments, and even enemy fire.
POLYUREA STEALTH TECHNOLOGY
Radar detection works by first emitting radio waves, a type of electromagnetic radiation, that then propagates through space until it encounters any objects. The signal then “bounces,” or reflects, off the object, which is later detected by a receiver and displayed on devices like a radarscope. Radar-absorbing materials like polyurea helps to absorb these signals, stopping them from returning to enemy receivers for detection and potential engagement. While still an area of ongoing research, polyurea is one of a growing number of radar-absorbing materials, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Here are just a few key examples of how radar-absorbent coatings are used for military applications:
Aircraft
Perhaps most importantly, radar-absorbing materials like polyurea can be used to provide stealth to advanced military aircraft. Stealth aircraft like the F-35 Lightning II make use of radar-absorbing coatings to reduce their radar cross-section (RCS), which is a measure of how detectable an object is with radar detection. For expensive aircraft, which can cost up to several hundred million dollars per unit, avoiding detection and interception is among the military’s first priorities.
Naval Vessels
Like military aircraft, naval vessels also benefit from polyurea coatings and their reduction of an object’s RCS. Also like aircraft, naval vessels can cost more than some country’s annual GDP, which is why every precaution is taken to keep them and their personnel safe. Functioning more as mobile military bases, naval vessels have different stealth requirements than aircraft, but both seek to be as minimally detectable as possible.
Ground Vehicles
While not as common or important as for aircraft or naval vessels, military ground vehicles can also benefit from radar-absorbing materials like polyurea. In addition to stealth, ground vehicles can also benefit more from the durability and resistance afforded by polyurea. Polyurea coatings can be used for military blast mitigation, and help vehicles resist weathering and abrasion, keeping equipment in working order and ready at a moment’s notice.
ADVANTAGES OF POLYUREA COATINGS
Beyond their radar-absorbing properties, there are several key advantages to polyurea coatings that see their use in everything from concrete repair to ballistic protection. They’re considered to have the most versatile physical properties of almost any coating technology and can be formulated for specific applications. Here are some of polyurea’s standout features:
Durability
Polyurea coatings are highly durable, as they’re abrasion, impact, and corrosion resistant. For military applications, their advanced protection means combining stealth with strength, perfect for any military grade tools or equipment.
Ease of Application
Typically applied with high-pressure spray equipment, polyurea coatings are easily installed on any surface. In typically one session, polyurea coatings can create a seamless, watertight barrier with no joints or seams. For radar-absorbent coatings, this is critical as such morphologies can compromise radar absorbance.
Fast Curing Times
Even faster and easier than their application, polyurea coatings cure rapidly, in as fast as a few minutes. Often a long and vulnerable step with other coating technologies, polyurea’s quick curing, paired with its ease of application, means a quicker return to service. Especially for military applications, every moment counts, and saving time means saving money.
Flexibility and
Adaptability
Polyurea coatings are flexible and adaptable, known as one of the most versatile coating technologies currently on the market. Polyurea can be formulated with specific properties and accommodates the demands of almost any coating project. For military applications where no project is the same, this flexibility is invaluable.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Radar-absorbing materials, or RAMs, are specialty materials that convert radar to another form of energy. Radar is a type of electromagnetic energy, fundamentally the same as microwaves, X-rays, and visible light. The energy in these electromagnetic waves is converted to heat or another form of energy instead of being reflected as electromagnetic radiation that can return to an enemy receiver.
The best radar-absorbing material (RAM) depends on the specific coatings projects. Some applications may require unique materials for niche use cases, while others may seek scalable, cost-effective solutions for a combination of stealth and strength. Polyurea is a great radar-absorbent material, providing its renowned strength and durability with the added benefit of stealthing properties.
Compared to many other stealth technologies, polyurea coatings are very inexpensive. While their stealth capabilities may not compete with newer, advanced, and likely secretive materials technology, they provide effective stealth at a fraction of the cost, combined with enhanced protection and durability.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
TYLER GLECKLER
I am a chemist with a specialization in nanotechnology and applied materials chemistry. My work has focused on the characterization of optoelectronic materials, namely including semiconductor nanocrystals.
