I-Corps: Radar absorbing materials for high-temperature, harsh environment applications

I-Corps项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发用于高温恶劣环境的雷达吸收材料（RAM）。目前，雷达吸波材料太重，在恶劣环境下的温度生存能力有限。该技术利用陶瓷复合材料而不是传统的聚合物、碳或铁材料来提高雷达吸收性能，这是一种新的隐身涂层方法，可能在国防工业中有广泛的应用。该技术旨在航空航天和国防应用，如飞机发动机喷嘴及其空气动力学加热部件，并可能用于隐身涂层工业。高性能微波吸收材料的发展可能会对隐形战争市场，特别是战斗机和导弹市场产生影响。该材料系统降低了隐身飞机的可观测性，增强了防空能力，并可能增加国家安全。这个I-Corps项目是基于高温，微波吸收陶瓷纳米复合材料的发展。所提出的材料具有覆盖整个ka波段（26.5-40 GHz）的宽微波吸收带宽，并且可以在高温（1000℃）下维持。目前的雷达吸波材料重量大，温度生存能力有限（400℃），与之相比，纳米复合材料在高低温和恶劣环境下都能提供高性能的微波吸收。超高温陶瓷由于其熔点高，在高温下保持机械性能，优异的耐腐蚀性以及表面的难熔氧化物提供良好的抗氧化性而引起人们的兴趣。此外，它们的高导电性是另一个可进一步探索和操纵的显著特性。为高温恶劣环境开发的雷达吸收材料可能非常适合航空航天和国防应用，例如飞机发动机喷嘴及其空气动力学加热部件。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of radar absorbing materials (RAM) for high-temperature harsh environments. Currently, radar absorbing materials are too heavy and possess limited temperature survivability in harsh environment applications. The proposed technology utilizes ceramic composites rather than traditional polymer, carbon, or iron materials for its radar absorbing properties, which represents is a new approach to stealth coatings that may have wide application for the defense industry. The technology is aimed at aerospace and defense applications, such as aircraft engine nozzles and their aerodynamically heated parts and may be used in the stealth coating industry. The development of high-performance, microwave-absorbing materials may have an impact on the stealth warfare market, especially that of fighter jets and missiles. The proposed material system lowers the observability of stealth aircraft, enhances the air defense capability, and may increase national security.This I-Corps project is based on the development of high-temperature, microwave-absorbing ceramic nanocomposite materials. The proposed materials have a wide microwave absorption bandwidth covering the entire Ka-band (26.5-40 GHz), and can sustain at high temperatures (1000 C). Compared with current radar absorbing materials, which are heavy and possess limited temperature survivability (400 C), the proposed nanocomposite design provides high-performance microwave absorption in high and low temperatures and harsh environment applications. There is interest in ultra-high temperature ceramics because of their high melting points, retained mechanical properties under high temperature, excellent corrosion resistance, and the refractory oxide on the surface to provide good oxidation resistance. In addition, their high electrical conductivity is another distinguishing property that may further be explored and manipulated. Radar absorbing materials developed for high-temperature harsh environments may be highly desirable for aerospace and defense applications, such as aircraft engine nozzles and their aerodynamically heated parts.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.