Infrared stealth nanofibrous composite with thermal stability and mechanical flexibility

Highlights: • The layered composite of [(CNT/Al/PA6)/PU]₃-PVA/SiO₂-PU presents a low infrared emissivity of 0.71. • The layered composite shows improved thermal stability as revealed by change of the thermal infrared images with time on a hot stage of 33 °C. • The layered composite is flexible with the fracture strength and strain reach 16.2 MPa and 7.9, indicating it is of good mechanical property. -- Abstract: Materials with low infrared emissivity, good thermal stability and mechanical performance are of major concern for the infrared stealth technology. By electrospinning technology, three layers of CNT/Al/PA6 were deposited alternatively with three layers of polyurethane PU (termed as "[(CNT/Al/PA6)/PU]₃". To improve the thermal stability, a layer of poly (vinyl alcohol)/silica (PVA/SiO₂) was also electrospun and sintered, which was sandwiched between the surface layer of [(CNT/Al/PA6)/PU]₃ and the bottom layer of PU. The layered composite of [(CNT/Al/PA6)/PU]₃-PVA/SiO₂-PU presents a low infrared emissivity of 0.71, and good thermal stability as revealed by change of the thermal infrared images with time on a hot stage. Uniaxial tensile tests also reveal the mechanical flexibility for the composite. The combined durable infrared stealth performance and excellent mechanical properties infrared stealth and mechanical behavior render the layered composite great potential in the infrared stealth camouflage applications.