Novel ceramic matrix metastructure for high-temperature radar-infrared compatible stealth: Structure-function design and manufacture

Radar and infrared compatibility stealth at high temperature is difficult to achieve due to their opposing mechanism. Meanwhile, stealth structures are required to experience thermal insulation and load-bearing performance due to the high-temperature harsh environment and high velocity thermal airflows impacts. Currently, few materials can satisfy the above demands simultaneously. Herein, a ceramic matrix lattice sandwich metastructure with high-temperature radar infrared compatibility stealth characteristics, thermal insulation, and load-bearing capacities was exploited through the crossover design of electromagnetics, mechanics, and thermodynamics. A square lattice sandwich structure was constructed through interlocking technology with the rivaling out-of-plane compressive strength. The electromagnetic wave absorption property of metastructure is designed and optimized according to the equivalent circuit model based on the electrical loss theory. The metastructure exhibits excellent -10 dB absorption bandwidth at 800 °C of 4.5-14.8 GHz. Furthermore, the metastructure achieves infrared stealth at high temperature by reducing the surface temperature (from 1150 °C to 362 °C) of objects through gradient distribution structure. The lattice sandwich metastructure proposed here is expected to aid in the creation of advanced high-temperature multifunctional stealth materials.