(robert arndt) wrote:

"Iron Ball" black paint was derived from the Third Reich's
radar-absorbing "Schornsteinfeger" (Chimney Sweep) carbon paint meant
for the Go-229 jet flying wing.

It was a bituminous paint heavily loaded with carbon. When applied in
thickness carefully calculated in relation to the radar frequency, the
arriving signal would be trapped within the dielectric material and
its return energy damped out.
This was the very first "serious' attempt at stealth technology...
long before RAM was introduced.

....and it has very little to do with how "iron ball" paint actually
works.

The German WWII attempts were basically "trying to paint it radar-black."

They didn't work very well, either, especially since the German attempts
were very frequency-sensitive, and extremely fragile. Messed up the
airflow, too, due to thickness and softness.

--
cirby at cfl.rr.com

Remember: Objects in rearview mirror may be hallucinations.
Slam on brakes accordingly.