Rapid preparation of TiC by joule heating synthesis: Efficient photothermal conversion and infrared stealth applications

In response to the operational challenges of military electronic devices in low-temperature environments and the demand for infrared stealth technology in military applications, this study employs the Joule heating method to rapidly synthesize TiC materials integrating photothermal conversion and infrared stealth capabilities. High-quality TiC can be produced within just 2 min using this approach. Experimental results demonstrate that the TiC prepared via this method exhibits exceptional thermal stability, optical stability, and favorable morphological characteristics. When compounded with epoxy resin, the resulting composite material achieves a maximum temperature of 67 °C under xenon lamp irradiation, with a photothermal conversion efficiency reaching 64.5 %. Infrared stealth tests further confirm that the TiC-epoxy composite possesses excellent infrared stealth performance, with an infrared absorption rate as high as 94.7 %. This research provides a viable foundation for the large-scale, environmentally sustainable production of military-grade materials that combine photothermal conversion and infrared stealth functionalities.