Transition metal oxide-based, infrared shielded, composite material
US20250075046A1
Abstract
A composite structure includes a plurality of laminate layers containing resin reinforced with carbon fiber; and a laminate, also comprising resin reinforced with carbon fiber, coated with a metallic layer integrated with a transition metal oxide that is laid up as a topmost layer of the plurality of laminate layers. The plurality of laminate layers and the coated laminate are cured to form a solid block of integrated composite material in a defined process to (i) integrate the transition metal oxide within the composite material, (ii) utilize transformed magnetic properties of the transition metal oxide to integrate the transition metal oxide into the metallic layer to coat the laminate, and (iii) utilize transformed optical properties of the transition metal oxide to achieve infrared shielding beyond a phase transition temperature of the transition metal oxide.
Description (excerpt)
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/108,437 filed on Dec. 12, 2020 and titled “Transition Metal Oxide-Based, Infrared Shielded Composite Material” which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. GOVERNMENT INTEREST The embodiments herein may be manufactured, used, and/or licensed by or for the United States Government without the payment of royalties thereon. BACKGROUND Technical Field The embodiments herein generally relate to infrared stealth technologies, and more particularly to suppression of infrared signatures on composite structures used for vehicles and systems. Description of the Related Art With rapid advancements in infrared detection techniques, there is an increasing demand for progress in stealth technologies. Hence, suppression of infrared signatures has become vital to the survivability of military vehicles and systems. Infrared signature suppression techniques currently in practice typically involve modified geometries to provide optical blocking of heated areas as well as power-intense and complex surface cooling mechanisms associated with performance penalties. In applications such as air vehicles, those penalties would include engine backpressure, additional weight, increased drag, higher cost, and complexity. An improvement in any one of these areas, if not all, would be advantageous and serve as an advancement in the industry. Accordingly, a new infrared suppression technique is needed to overcome the limitations of the conventional solutions. SUMMARY In view of the foregoing, an embodiment herein provides a composite structure comprising a plurality of laminate layers comprising resin reinforced with carbon fiber; and a laminate layer, also comprising resin reinforced with carbon fiber, coated with a metallic layer integrated with a transition metal oxide that is laid up as a topmost layer of the plurality of laminate layers, wherein the plurality of laminate layers and the coated laminate layer are cured to form a solid block of composite material in a defined process to (i) integrate the transition metal oxide within the composite material, (ii) utilize transformed magnetic properties of the transition metal oxide to integrate the transition metal oxide into the metallic layer to coat the laminate, and (iii) utilize transformed optical properties of the transition metal oxide to achieve infrared shielding beyond a phase transition temperature of the transition metal oxide. The transition metal oxide may comprise vanadium dioxide (VO 2 ). The metallic layer may comprise nickel. The defined process may comprise a magnetically or thermally driven electrodeposition process that causes the VO 2 to become embedded into the nickel. The phase transition temperature may be at least 68° C. Another embodiment provides a method of forming an infrared-shielding composite structure, the method comprising providing a plurality of laminate layers comprising resin reinforced with carbon fiber; coating a laminate, also comprising resin reinforced with carbon fiber, with a metallic layer integrated with a transition metal oxide; setting the coated laminate as a topmost layer of the plurality of laminate layers; and curing the plurality of laminate layers and the coated laminate to form a solid block of composite material in a defined process to (i) integrate the transition metal oxide within the composite material, (ii) utilize transformed magnetic properties of the transition metal oxide to integrate the transition metal oxide into the metallic layer to coat the laminate, and (iii) utilize transformed optical properties of the transition metal oxide to achieve infrared shielding beyond a phase transition temperature of the transition metal oxide. The composite material may comprise an emissivity of approximately 0.562. The method may comprise coating an exposed upper surface of the laminate with the metallic layer integrated with the transition metal oxide. The coating of the metallic layer integrated with the transition metal oxide onto the laminate may occur in a bath above the phase transition temperature of the transition metal oxide. The method may comprise controlling a temperature of the bath to cause magnetic properties of the transition metal oxide to switch from non-magnetic to magnetic properties at the phase transition temperature of the transition metal oxide. The method may comprise arranging magnets to attract the transition metal oxide to the laminate. The coating of the laminate may occur at a temperature greater than 68° C. The coating of the laminate may occur at a temperature under 120° C. Another embodiment provides a method of providing infrared shielding in a composite structure, the method comprising providing a plurality of laminate layers compr
Filing details
- Inventors
- Latha Nataraj
- Assignee
- U.S. Government, as Represented by the Secretary of Army
- Filed
- Nov 18, 2024
- Granted
- Application pending
Bibliographic data and excerpted text sourced from Google Patents (public record) as part of IP TechMatch's current-filings monitor. This filing is not part of the 2019 historical archive. For the authoritative full text, drawings, and legal status, see the source links above or consult USPTO records directly.