Laird R&F Products has capitalized on the latest in particle research and creatively manipulated particle size and shape to develop a line of microwave absorbers that performs reliably at low frequencies, high frequencies and in the standard communications band. The new materials offer improved resistance to corrosion, overcoming a common problem with standard magnetic absorbers. Military and aerospace industry design engineers can use the new absorbers to mitigate electromagnetic interference and enhance the survivability of military vehicles, such as ships and aircraft, across a broad range of frequencies.
“As communications and radar capabilities evolve, military design engineers need absorbers that address a wider range of frequencies than ever before,” said Rick Johnson, aerospace and defense director at Laird R&F Products. “Our new absorbers are optimized to perform reliably across three commonly used frequency ranges, giving design engineers tailored and reliable solutions.”
Laird R&F Products used novel alloys of magnetic metals and changed the size, shape and magnetic properties of particles by adjusting processing conditions such as annealing times and temperatures. It also used corrosion-resistant alloys and particle coatings. The new product line features products in three frequency ranges:
• An absorber for under 500 MHz features high-aspect ratio particles to increase permeability and reduce thickness
• The 0.8 to 2.0 GHz range absorber is a thin, lightweight solution
• An absorber for the 1-20 GHz range is corrosion resistant and features high-aspect ratio particles that offer signal attenuation at a lower weight
“These new materials represent a significant step forward in microwave absorber innovation,” Johnson said. “By altering particle properties to tailor magnetic permeability, reduce thickness and weight, and improve corrosion resistance, these absorbers offer military design engineers valuable flexibility as they work to minimize signal interference and improve survivability.”