FUTURES EXPO SERIES
Environmentally Friendly , Functional Hybrid Coatings for Defence Applications
A scalable technique for hybrid polymer stealth coatings
Research Project
Stealth coatings are crucial for the defence industry as they significantly reduce the radar , infrared , and other detection signatures of military assets . By making aircraft , ships , and vehicles harder to detect and track , stealth coatings provide a strategic advantage in both offensive and defensive operations .
UNSW researchers have developed the ability to fabricate environmentally friendly , aqueous-based , hybrid polymer coatings containing nanofillers . These are exemplified by graphene nanosheets and magnetic nanoparticles , thereby conferring properties such as electrical conductivity .
A key aspect is adopting an emulsion polymerization-based approach , which enables unprecedented control over the distribution of nanofillers within the polymer matrix . The coatings can be applied to large structures via spray coating and are suitable for Defence and industry applications . These coatings can be used as stealth coatings and are specifically designed for use in electromagnetic interference shielding .
Key capabilities
> Aqueous emulsion polymerisation > Control of nanofiller distribution > Large-scale fabrication and application
Differentiators
> Environmentally friendly > Suitable for scale-up on an industrial level > Able to fine-tune coating properties
Key customers
> Australian defence industry > Office of National Intelligence
( ONI ) > The coatings industry
Key partnerships
> Office of National Intelligence ( ONI )
unsw . to / professor-zetterlund 56 •