Advanced Nuclear and DE Materials for Integrated Composites (ANDEMIC)

The intent of this Request for Information (RFI) is to gather information on the domestic capabilities in research and development, production, and manufacturing for integration of electromagnetic (EM) shielding into composites with performance across a broad range of frequencies. The United States (US) Department of Defense (DoD) and other domestic consumers have an interest in being able to protect systems against interference and/or attack from a broad range of frequencies from the low kilohertz (KHz) through approximately 40 gigahertz (GHz) range. Existing composites with integrated EM shielding focus either on the electric wave reflection/absorption or magnetic wave reflection but rarely can a single material accomplish both. The commercial applications for such technologies include Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) router and cellular telephone (cellphone) data protection as well as protection from spurious signal emission jamming. The US Government has similar protection needs while also requiring continuity of operations for electronic and communication systems. Using lightweight composite options to provide built-in and retrofittable options for shielding to DoD systems, both ground and air operated, increases the viability of mission survival in an ever growing technologically reliant world. A composite system with reduction or elimination of parasitic layers will increase applicability across the DoD and having a domestic source for such materials is paramount to EM protection across multiple platforms.