THERMOPHYSICS OF RADIATION HEAT EXCHANGE FOR THERMAL MASKING
Keywords:
radiation flux, emissivity, emissivity, low-emissivity coating, metamaterials, aerogel, MXene, radiation spectrum, thermal masking.
Abstract
This paper analyzes modern thermal masking methods. These methods are used to prevent detection of heated objects using thermal imaging cameras and other similar devices. These methods are particularly important during combat operations to conceal personnel and military equipment. It is shown that the main areas of thermal masking technology development are related to methods for reducing the surface temperature of a heated object and decreasing its emissivity. These measures reduce the intensity of infrared radiation detected by a thermal imager. It is noted that the most effective solution to these problems is the creation of low emissivity surfaces in atmospheric windows and selective emission in other electromagnetic wave ranges for thermal monitoring and surface temperature reduction.
References
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Atmosfaerisk_spredning-en.svg
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Qin, B., Zhu, Y., Zhou, Y. et al. Whole-infrared-band camouflage with dual-band radiative heat dissipation. Light Sci Appl 12, 246 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-023-01287-z
Qin, B., Zhu, H., Zhu, R. et al. Space-to-ground infrared camouflage with radiative heat dissipation. Light Sci Appl 14, 137 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-01824-y
Xi, W., Lee, YJ., Yu, S. et al. Ultrahigh-efficient material informatics inverse design of thermal metamaterials for visible-infrared-compatible camouflage. Nat Commun 14, 4694 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-40350-6
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Larciprete MC, Centini M, Paoloni S, Fratoddi I, Dereshgi SA, Tang K, Wu J, Aydin K. Adaptive tuning of infrared emission using VO thin films. Sci Rep. 2020 Jul 14;10(1):11544. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-68334-2
Khanyile, B.S., Numan, N., Simo, A. et al. Towards Room Temperature Thermochromic Coatings with controllable NIR-IR modulation for solar heat management & smart windows applications. Sci Rep 14, 2818 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-52021-7
Liu, H. et al. Moisture assisted photo-engineered textiles for visible and self-adaptive infrared dual camouflage. Nano Energy 93, 106855 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2021.106855
Rui Xu, Dan Yu. Infrared camouflage fabric prepared by paraffin phase change microcapsule with Good thermal insulting properties. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, Volume 591, 2020, Article 124519. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2020.124519
Li, B., Zeng, S. Bilateral passive thermal management for dynamical temperature regulation. Sci Rep 14, 2875 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-53433-1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Atmosfaerisk_spredning-en.svg
Innovative camouflage technologies to ensure the tactical advantage of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the modern battlefield.https://stg-defence.com/pro-nas/
X. Li, J. Chen, X. Jiang, J. Zeng, X. Liao, Y. Chen, S. Xiao, F. Zhao, H. Chen, J. Yang, Z. Zhang, Z. Zhang, and Y. Yu, "Multispectral camouflage nanostructure design based on a particle swarm optimization algorithm for color camouflage, infrared camouflage, laser stealth, and heat dissipation". Opt. Express 31, 44811-44822 (2023).
Xiangxiang Zhang, Zhicheng Wang, Guotai Zhou, Jun Li, Chao Li, Cheng Lin, Xiaozhou Xin. Multifunctional metamaterials based on MXene composite aerogels for integrated load-bearing and multiphysics wave attenuation. Composites. Part B: Engineering, Volume 309, 2026, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2025.113075.
Wu, C., Cheng, H., Liao, Q. et al. Air-dried high-strength black MXene aerogel for spatiotemporal infrared information management. Nat Commun 16, 9780 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-64754-8
Zhang, L.; Zhang, W.; Liu, Y.; Liu, L. Three-Layered Thin Films for Simultaneous Infrared Camouflage and Radiative Cooling. Materials 2023, 16, 4188. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16114188
Yuchi Liu, Linshuang Long, Yufei Gao, Wei Li, Zhipeng Tang, Hong Ye. Influence of emissivity on infrared camouflage performance. Infrared Physics & Technology, Volume 141, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infrared.2024.105509.
Huang, Y., Zhu, H., Zhou, Y. et al. Adaptive visible-infrared camouflage with wide-range radiation control for extreme ambient temperatures. PhotoniX 6, 25 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s43074-025-00184-5
Zhao, K., Guo, Q., Jiang, L.et al. Adaptive infrared thermal camouflage of multi-layer PCMs devices via laser-electric co-modulation driven by neural network. PhotoniX 6, 42 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s43074-025-00199-y
Su, Y.; Zhao, X.; Han, Y. Phase Change Microcapsule Composite Material with Intelligent Thermoregulation Function for Infrared Camouflage. Polymers 2023, 15, 3055. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15143055
Chen, Z.; Fu, X.; Liu, R.; Song, Y.; Yin, X. Fabrication, Performance, and Potential Applications of MXene Composite Aerogels. Nanomaterials 2023, 13, 2048. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13142048
Sansone, L.; Loffredo, F.; Cilento, F.; Miscioscia, R.; Martone, A.; Barrella, N.; Paulillo, B.; Bassano, A.; Villani, F.; Giordano, M. Recent Advances in Graphene Adaptive Thermal Camouflage Devices. Nanomaterials 2024, 14, 1394. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14171394
Li, C., Cao, C., Li, Z. et al. Color-thermal multispectral camouflage with VO2-based dynamic regulator. Light Sci Appl 14, 313 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-01968-x
Heungsoo Kim, David Lahneman, Charles Rohde, and Alberto Piqué. VO2-based thin-film radiators with variable thermal emissivity / Thin Solid Films, Volume 759, 1 October 2022, 139455. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsf.2022.139455. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040609022003698.
Zhu, H., Li, Q., Zheng, C. et al. High-temperature infrared camouflage with efficient thermal management. Light Sci Appl 9, 60 (2020). https://www.nature.com/articles/s41377-020-0300-5.
Zhu, H., Li, Q., Tao, C. et al. Multispectral camouflage for infrared, visible, lasers and microwave with radiative cooling. Nat Commun 12, 1805 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-22051-0
Hou, Y., Liang, X., Li, Z. et al. Thermoelectric device for active thermal concealment, deception and messaging. Nat Commun 16, 9888 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-66134-8
Qin, B., Zhu, Y., Zhou, Y. et al. Whole-infrared-band camouflage with dual-band radiative heat dissipation. Light Sci Appl 12, 246 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-023-01287-z
Qin, B., Zhu, H., Zhu, R. et al. Space-to-ground infrared camouflage with radiative heat dissipation. Light Sci Appl 14, 137 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-01824-y
Xi, W., Lee, YJ., Yu, S. et al. Ultrahigh-efficient material informatics inverse design of thermal metamaterials for visible-infrared-compatible camouflage. Nat Commun 14, 4694 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-40350-6
Wang J, Dai G, Huang J. Thermal Metamaterial: Fundamental, Application, and Outlook. iScience. 2020 Oct 1;23(10):101637. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101637 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2020.101637
Larciprete MC, Centini M, Paoloni S, Fratoddi I, Dereshgi SA, Tang K, Wu J, Aydin K. Adaptive tuning of infrared emission using VO thin films. Sci Rep. 2020 Jul 14;10(1):11544. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-68334-2
Khanyile, B.S., Numan, N., Simo, A. et al. Towards Room Temperature Thermochromic Coatings with controllable NIR-IR modulation for solar heat management & smart windows applications. Sci Rep 14, 2818 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-52021-7
Liu, H. et al. Moisture assisted photo-engineered textiles for visible and self-adaptive infrared dual camouflage. Nano Energy 93, 106855 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2021.106855
Rui Xu, Dan Yu. Infrared camouflage fabric prepared by paraffin phase change microcapsule with Good thermal insulting properties. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, Volume 591, 2020, Article 124519. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2020.124519
Li, B., Zeng, S. Bilateral passive thermal management for dynamical temperature regulation. Sci Rep 14, 2875 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-53433-1
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Published
2026-06-30
How to Cite
Basok, B., Demchenko, V., Davydenko, B., & Shmatok, O. (2026). THERMOPHYSICS OF RADIATION HEAT EXCHANGE FOR THERMAL MASKING. Thermophysics and Thermal Power Engineering, 48(2), 41-54. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.31472/ttpe.2.2026.4
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