S. Furst and N. Scott
Smart Material Solutions, LLC, United States
Keywords:
Warfighters and unmanned defense equipment can be simultaneously detected by a multitude of EM sensing technologies under constant development across the world. This work presents a multispectral camouflage platform based on subwavelength roll-to-roll (R2R) patterning and other R2R processes. A large-area sample of an “IR Camo” film that uses spatially varying emissivity to conceal objects in the infrared is demonstrated first, although the platform can also create plasmonic metamaterials for a wide array of signature-management objectives. This paper presents thermal images and FTIR signatures of our IR Camo film along with prospects for future developments, including methods to reduce reflectivity in the visible spectrum and hide messages for friend-or-foe identification. We have successfully written more than 100 square feet of film with our custom-designed IR Camo pattern, demonstrating the scalability and cost-reducing potential of the platform.