Radar Absorbing Foam

[samq45]

I am the process of re-building a '93 Miata. I have the car in several pieces and its getting painted soon.

I was thinking while I have it apart I could fill the front bumper area with some of the radar absorbing foam as there is lots of room to add this stuff.
I was wondering if anyone had experience with using the foam. The vast majority of Radar encounters I face here in NY is against the Stalker (34.7).

It has a low radar signature as it is and if the foam could help some the car qould be quite stealth with the laser jammers.


Does anyone know where I can get some of the foam for this frequency?

Anyone have any other ideas?

[TSi+WRX]

Will the foam work, when it is covered-over by the bumper skin?

Can one "perforate" the bumper skin, in hopes of having the underlying foam thus attenuate the signal?

[samq45]

Good Questions - The front end is Plastic - (or Fiberglass but pretty sure it's thermoplastic olefins (TPOs) or polycarbonate)


The hood was replaced with a fiberglass version and the fenders are stock metal. I know the vettes have a low signature also and assumed this was due to the fiberglass. For some reason I though radar did not reflect well from just the fiberglass or "plastic" and most of the reflection was due to the engine block and a bit from the windshield.

Does anyone know if the foam would work between the engine block and the bumper - it would look a little funny with the foam on the outside.....

[The STIG]

I dont think that is too pratical. Wouldnt you have to find foam to match each radar freq?

The STIG.

[samq45]

All I am worried about is stalker - Here in NY even the locals and the sheriff's deputies are using stalker duals. The only time i have seen other frequencies around here in the last year were door openers and cobras
This would take care of over 80% of radar encounters for me, maybe more.

[CJR238]

foam will only work if its not covered. its like poring water on a sponge with an umbrella over it, there would be no way for the water to get to the sponge and bounce right off.
I want the program that they use to make the stealth bombers, now that would be a cool looking car.

[silverstreak98]

Interesting idea although having foam on your bumper probably wouldn't be to pretty to look at.

[TSi+WRX]

Slightly more pedestrian friendly?

[Qrr]

''For some reason I though radar did not reflect well from just the fiberglass or "plastic" and most of the reflection was due to the engine block and a bit from the windshield.''

And you are absolutely right .

The main secret ingredient in the stealth paint is graphite .
To absorb a specific frequency they can mix graphite + nano particles of metal , the formula is really secret . But you can assume that graphite is a broadband absorber.

A fine powder of graphite is obtained by filing a used electode utilised in electrolysis plant/plating or buy at a very specialised company. Your difficulty will be to incorporate this powder into foam or use a latex paint exterior and add as much powder in the paint and litteraly coat the inside of your bumper , the ticker the better . Many coats = better .

Now ...is it effective ? By all the books/publications I read over the years =Yes . By which percentage it will diminish your Rcs (radar cross section) ? ... unless you have a very sophisticated lab to test $$$$$$$ ...or do test with a real radar before / after ...and tell us the results.

Stealth is the future.

[crazyVOLVOrob]

Fiberglass is just a great think to limit your radar refelction to the gun...Part of the reason why the Corvette have a low radar clocking range. I would assume a fiberglass front end might help...

This Radar absorbing foam is something that goes with each different radar frequency there really isn't a foam for all frequencies