Low-Emissivity Topcoats for the Reduction of Thermal Infrared Emissions From Military Platforms

By Lance C. Kelly

Infrared-(IR) based weaponry and surveillance systems utilizing the short-wave, mid-wave, and long-wave IR emissions produced by ambient to high-temperature surfaces are an existing and continually evolving threat to military platforms. The survivability and sustainability of aircraft, helicopters, ships, and land vehicles depend on adequate protection against these threats. IR emissions from an object can be reduced by the use of an easily applied, low-weight, and passive low-emissivity coating for a relatively low cost.

Several low-emissivity coatings with visual camouflage colors used by the Australian Defence Force (ADF) have been formulated that have lower emissivity in the critical IR transmission windows in the thermal IR when compared with conventional military coatings.

A low-emissivity IR coating based on the camouflage color Aerospace Material Specification Standard 595 36375, a color that is employed by the Royal Australian Air Force on a number of ADF platforms, was formulated and tested against two topcoat specifications, MIL-PRF-85285E and DEF(AUST) 9001A.