Laboratory Studies of Infrared Radiation Transmission of Camouflage Net Materials Used on the Battlefield

The paper presents the results of testing the properties of several different camouflage net materials. These means are not weapons, so their distribution is carried out on a general basis without licenses or permits. In contemporary armed conflicts, the means of direct camouflage are being used intensively. Frequently, the quality of the camouflage nets supplied in terms of thermal masking is not defined and there is therefore a strong need for an objective examination before they are used. The conflict in Ukraine and the lack of literature data in this area became the motivation to assess the quality of the camouflage net material and to propose a method for its quick qualitative assessment. Their transmission was examined in visible light and in infrared light. The infrared transmission study consisted in testing radiation reaching the measuring camera, derived from the black body standard and human body. The correlation between visible light transmission and infrared transmission has been investigated. Test results of the studies indicate that the level of transparency is not directly reflected in thermal contrast. Hence, the conclusion that the thermal properties of the nets cannot be assessed on the basis of visual observation. The transparency of the net in visible light is not proportional to infrared transparency. The degree of perforation cannot determine the effectiveness of thermal masking.