Preparation and properties of a multifunctional composite material with infrared stealth, wear resistance, and ultraviolet protection properties

To meet the urgent demand for multifunctional integration of infrared stealth, wear resistance, and ultraviolet protection in fixed targets such as military command posts, this study employed pre-oxidized fiber/aramid felt as the reinforced substrate and waterborne polyurethane as the film-forming matrix. Carbon fiber powder and nano-silica were surface-modified using silane coupling agent KH550, respectively, and four different formulations of carbon fiber powder/silica/pre-oxidized fiber/aramid felt composites were prepared via foam coating technology. The effects of functional particle modification states on the micro-morphology, wear resistance, infrared stealth performance, ultraviolet protection performance, and environmental durability of the materials were systematically investigated. The results demonstrated that after dual modification of carbon fiber powder and silica, the composite exhibited excellent wear resistance with a wear index of 626.11 cycles/mg and a friction endurance of 40,000 cycles. Simultaneously, its infrared emissivity decreased significantly to 0.67 (film side) and 0.59 (felt side), respectively, demonstrating a certain capacity for infrared radiation modulation among existing polymer-based composite systems. Its ultraviolet protection performance decreased slightly yet remained at a high level (UPF ≥ 202). After ultraviolet aging treatment, the ultraviolet protection performance of the sample was enhanced. However, both infrared emissivity and ultraviolet protection performance of all samples deteriorated following acid, alkali, and salt corrosion. Additionally, the silica-only modified group exhibited optimal electrical conductivity (surface resistance: 1.39 MΩ) and water resistance (hydrostatic pressure: 8.2 kPa). This research provides a theoretical basis and experimental support for the structural design of multifunctional camouflage materials for military command posts.