Copper-Coated Fabric With Zinc Oxide for Lower-Cost IR Cloaking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current infrared cloaking technologies are expensive due to the use of silver-coated materials and have limitations in effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

A copper-coated fabric with a layer of zinc oxide is used to create an infrared cloaking material that absorbs and scatters infrared radiation, making objects less visible to IR sensors and cameras, while maintaining flexibility and reducing manufacturing costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If silver-coated material is used for IR cloaking, then IR radiation shielding effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveIR radiation shielding effectivenessVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive silver with copper, which is significantly cheaper and more abundant. The copper coating provides comparable IR shielding effectiveness at a fraction of the cost, making the cloaking material economically viable for widespread military and civilian applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite structure combining copper coating with zinc oxide particles embedded in the fabric. This composite approach enhances the IR shielding performance while maintaining cost-effectiveness, as zinc oxide is inexpensive and adds functional benefits for broad-spectrum radiation protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If copper and zinc oxide coating is applied, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but IR radiation shielding effectiveness may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidIR radiation shielding effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies copper coating specifically to the fabric surface where IR radiation interaction occurs most intensely. The zinc oxide particles are strategically embedded to target specific wavelength ranges. This localized quality approach ensures optimal shielding performance at critical interfaces while minimizing material costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the thickness of copper coating and the concentration of zinc oxide particles to achieve peak shielding effectiveness. By carefully controlling these parameters, the material achieves comparable performance to silver-based solutions while maintaining cost advantages through reduced material usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If standard fabric material is altered with copper and zinc oxide, then IR camouflage capability is achieved, but material flexibility and manufacturability must be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveIR detection resistanceVSAvoidmaterial flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses thin-film copper coating applied to flexible fabric substrates, maintaining the inherent flexibility and drape of the underlying textile. The zinc oxide particles are embedded within the fabric structure rather than forming rigid layers, preserving material柔韧性 while providing IR shielding functionality suitable for wearable cloaking garments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The material effectively shields humans and equipment from IR detection, outperforming industry standards in IR radiation detection resistance, and is more cost-effective than silver-based solutions.

Implementation Method 1

copper and zinc oxide are applied to the material with a specialized coating technique to shield the human body's peak emission of 9.4 μm and cover the range of 7.5 μm to 12 μm

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption (EM radiation): Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

A copper-coated fabric with a layer of zinc oxide is used to create an infrared cloaking material that absorbs and scatters infrared radiation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectScattering: Scattering

Data Source

PatentUS12419021B2Infrared cloaking material

Publication Date: 2025.09.16 HORINEK DAVID

AI summary

An infrared cloaking material includes a copper-coated fabric and a layer of zinc oxide. The copper-coated fabric includes an inner layer of copper, a layer of fabric, and an outer layer of copper as the layer of fabric is composed of an inner fabric surface and an outer fabric surface. The inner fabric surface and the outer fabric surface being positioned opposite of each other about the layer of fabric. The inner layer of copper is superimposed onto and across the inner fabric surface. The outer layer of copper is superimposed onto and across the outer fabric surface. The layer of zinc oxide is positioned adjacent to the inner layer of copper, opposite of the layer of fabric as the layer of zinc oxide is superimposed onto and across the inner layer of copper.