Multi-component nanocomposite infrared flare with superior infrared signature via synergism of nanothermite and reduced graphene oxide

Abstract

Infrared-guided missiles caused 90% aircraft damage. Infrared decoy flares are effective counter measure against infrared missiles. Decoy flare thermal signature depends mainly on black body emission of carbonaceous combustion products. Thermite particles can offer substantial heat output to promote black body emission. Reduced graphene oxide (RGO) is a promising material for advanced infrared decoy flares. RGO could act as ideal black-body emitter with superior thermal properties and high interfacial surface area. This study is dedicated to investigate novel synergism between Fe2O3 and RGO; Fe2O3 NPs of 3.56 nm were fabricated using hydrothermal synthesis technique. RGO nano-sheets of 10 µm dimensions and 10 nm thickness were developed via the reduction of graphene oxide, developed by Hummer method. Complete reduction of GO to RGO was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. Amorphous nano-sheets structure was observed using TEM; XRD diffractogram demonstrated tiny characteristic broad peak for amorphous RGO. Decoy flare formulation based on Fe2O3, RGO, reactive metal fuel (Mg), and fluorocarbon polymer (teflon) were developed. Thermal signature was evaluated using Arc-Optics IR spectrometer (1–6 µm). Multi-component MTV nanocomposite flare based on 6 wt % RGO and 2 wt % Fe2O3 demonstrated superior spectral and radiometric performance. It offered an increase in average intensity by 130% to reference MTV formulation; additionally it offered superior relative intensity Ɵ value of 0.76. While RGO could act as novel black body emitter; thermite reaction between Fe2O3 NPs and surplus magnesium fuel could provide substantial heat output; that could promote RGO black body emission.