Modeling the Infrared Emittance of Paints

摘要

Present day camouflage paints are ineffective in the thermal infrared spectral region. In order to develop improved paints or coatings, a theoretical understanding of the factors involved is required. To this end modification of a previously developed theory of the emittance of particulate systems has been undertaken. Infrared spectral measurements of the Army's Forest Green Paint have been made and compared with computer simulations based on the modified theory. The results suggest where changes in present formulations need to be made to develop improved paints. The most important change is the substitution of an infrared transparent binder for the opaque one currently used. If this binder can be developed from a material with visible refractive index near 1.5, the visible properties of the paint will be minimally affected. (Author)