Military stealth coating sold as cheap house paint? China might do it
New microwave-absorbing material points to more affordable mass production, as reports of commercial ‘stealth paint’ spark debate
Radar-absorbing materials have long been associated with stealth fighters, cruise missiles and other high-end military platforms for which performance often comes at a high cost.
But in China, some stealth coatings could be moving into large-scale industrial production and driving prices down fast.
A team from Foshan University reported a low-cost microwave-absorbing composite made from expanded graphite and titanium dioxide, according to a peer-reviewed paper published in the Journal of Ceramics in April.
The researchers said the material combines strong electromagnetic wave attenuation with a relatively simple manufacturing process, potentially reducing production costs compared with many existing high-performance absorbing materials.
The development is significant because advanced radar-absorbing systems have traditionally relied on expensive ingredients such as graphene, carbon nanotubes and other engineered composite materials.
The Foshan team instead used expanded graphite, a far cheaper and more readily available carbon material. According to the authors, the approach could improve the feasibility of mass production and broaden practical applications beyond military niche.