Network engineering in the UK in March 2016 7 reported Iowa State University engineers have developed a stretching of the polymer materials, embedded tiny liquid metal ring, can reduce the radar echo wave to radar stealth.
The stealth device is composed of an opening resonant ring filled with a liquid gallium indium tin alloy. Indium tin metal alloy is liquid at room temperature, but not as toxic as mercury. These rings with a radius of 2.5 mm, 0.5 mm thick, embedded in the surface of the silica gel, combined into a resonator, can suppress the specific frequency of radar wave.
Stretching over material skin will change the size of the liquid metal ring, adjust the frequency band of the role, making stealth frequency adjustable, a series of radar wave suppression. According to the test results, the suppression effect of the omni-directional radar wave of 8-10GHz is 75%, which is different from the traditional stealth technology that only reduce the back scattering or reflect back radar source.
The researchers claim that the skin can be used for a new generation of stealth fighter, this technology can lay the foundation for the development of a more advanced stealth systems, such as visual stealth.
The long-term goal is to reduce the size of these devices, and to play a role in the higher frequency of visible light or infrared light. Although these studies require advanced nano fabrication techniques and appropriate structural modifications, this will verify the concept of the frequency modulation, band broadening, and the multi wave suppression of the ultra material skin. (China Aviation Industry Development Research Center, Hu Yanping)