Effect of ZrSiO<sub>4</sub> on the far-infrared radiation characteristics of Pb<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/Mg/PTFE infrared decoy
Authors: WANG Bing  , CHEN Zongsheng  , SHI Jiaming  , XU Hexiu  ,   1 Air and Missile Defense College, Air Force Engineering University, Xian 710051, China;,   2 State Key Laboratory of Pulsed Power Laser Technology, National University of Defense Technology, Hefei 230037, China
Published: February 2025

Traditional composite infrared decoy (Magnesium/Teflon, Mg/PTFE) has been widely used in countering infrared guided weapons since its invention. However, with the development of infrared guidance technology, its drawbacks such as insufficient far-infrared radiation and excessive combustion temperatures made it difficult to counter novel infrared guided weapons. To address this issue, a strategy of utilizing Zirconium Silicate（ZrSiO<sub>4</sub>）as an additive was proposed to improve the infrared radiation of infrared decoy. Therein, seven formulations with different ratio of ZrSiO<sub>4</sub> were designed based on the basic formula of trilead tetraoxide/magnesium/teflon(Pb<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/Mg/PTFE) mixed powder. And the effect of ZrSiO<sub>4</sub> as an additive on the performance of Pb<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/Mg/PTFE infrared decoy was analyzed through experiments. First, initial experiments were conducted on the thermal decomposition characteristics of the basic formula（ZrSiO<sub>4</sub> addition ratio is 0%） and its variant counterpart with 12% ZrSiO<sub>4</sub>. Subsequently, the combustion behaviors of the compacted formulation samples were examined using an infrared thermal imager operating within the 7.5 to 14 μm range, following which the combution time, combution temperature, burning rate, radiation area, radiance, and radiation intensity of individual samples were computed. According to these findings, ZrSiO<sub>4</sub> incorporation reduces the intensity of the primary exothermic peak during the reactions with a mixed infrared decoy agent, yielding suboptimal thermal efficiencies. Furthermore, the combustion durations of the samples progressively increase with increasing ZrSiO<sub>4</sub> addition, accompanied by consistent reductions in their combustion temperatures. Specifically, the sample reaction time peaks at 3 s at a ZrSiO<sub>4</sub> addition ratio of 18%, while the combution temperature drops to a minimum of 765.46℃. Moreover, the far-infrared radiance and radiation intensity demonstrate an initial increase followed by a decrease as ZrSiO<sub>4</sub> addition increases, facilitating maximum values of 2461 W·m<sup>‒2</sup>·Sr<sup>‒1</sup> and 142 W·Sr<sup>‒1</sup>, respectively at a ZrSiO<sub>4</sub> addition ratio of 6%. Furthermore, the far-infrared radiance and radiation intensity of the base formulation are enhanced when ZrSiO<sub>4</sub> addition ratios are kept within 18% and 9% respectively. Comprehensively analyzing the experimental data and taking into account the requirements of the infrared decoy in practical applications, the formulation with a 6% addition ratio of ZrSiO<sub>4</sub> was adopted as the improved formulation of the Pb<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/Mg/PTFE infrared decoy.