Chinese scientists have developed an adhesive that could shield drones and missiles from laser attacks. During an experiment, scientists discovered that a low-cost resin could shield weapons from laser damage.
According to scientists, the material was unharmed after being bombarded with a laser beam of weapons-grade intensity for 15 seconds. According to SCMP, this laser had a power density of 500 watts per square centimeter. It is essential to observe that this intensity exceeded that required to annihilate a missile.
Combating radiation with glue
Currently, megawatt laser systems are not feasible, but this could change in the immediate future. For their experiment, the scientists applied a 2.55-millimeter layer of boron phenolic resin (BPR), a material commonly used in high-temperature, high-stress environments.
The low cost of BPR makes it a viable weapon protection mechanism against laser systems. According to data from China, the price per kilogram is below $1. According to the team from Beijing Institute of Technology, BPR can be converted into a “anti-high-energy laser protective coating” with a few modifications.
Gao Lihong, the study’s primary author, remarked, “This solution utilizes low-cost raw materials and a straightforward manufacturing process, and has very high performance.” On May 17, the study was published in the Chinese journal Ordnance Material Science and Engineering.
The development of hypersonic missiles has accelerated the production of laser weapons. Hypersonic missiles are difficult to intercept because they travel quicker than the speed of sound. Since a focused laser can propagate at the speed of light, laser weapons are seen as a deterrent against hypersonic missiles.
Currently, BPR coating is used to defend weapons and drones from heat. However, a laser beam could readily penetrate conventional coating. Using “straight from the market” components, the research team created a novel composite with the designation “BPR-1” that can prevent laser beam damage.