Running Head: THERMOCHROMIC CAMOUFLAGE 1

Thermochromic Camouflage:

Usage of Thermochromic Pigments in Methods of Camouflage

Jacob Menichetti, Daniel Simon, Taylor Jordan

GS@IP, George Mason University

COS 120: Intro to Research I

Dr. Felipe Gutierrez

April 3, 2024
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Abstract

There is a large market demand for colored textiles and camouflage, which pollutes our

environment and can vary depending on the climate. Our project can solve both problems

through thermochromism in clothing and camouflage. Human textiles demand for coloring, leads

to massive overproduction of textiles, which creates waste and pollution in our environment. The

camouflage industry is one of the biggest contributors to this overproduction. This research aims

to synthesize a thermochromic dye that is not harmful to humans and can change to many colors

at regular ambient air temperatures. It also needs to be practical to apply to a material safely and

not cause any additional risk. For the demonstration prototype, we dyed the front of the shirt due

to how long it takes to apply the dye without a machine. To test how the dyes change color, a

heat gun was applied to the surface of the shirt, heating it above the critical temperature. The dye

slowly turned from black into green and yellow. To test how the camouflage works in its

surroundings, it was placed in a forest in Virginia, a Temperate Forest in Europe and a Tropical

Forest on the equator. It performed as expected and did not stand out too much. We placed the

prototype next to a picture of a Temperature Forest in Europe and compared the images. This

research shows how thermochromic pigments can be used to create adaptive camouflage based

on changes in temperature. The prototype passed the qualitative tests and can be replicated. Upon

testing the prototype, we demonstrated that it is practical and effective camouflage, and can

provide an advantage over standard camouflage. Further research into the colors needed for

specific areas across the globe can make the design practical for almost any use case. The design

we created is cheap and effective and can be used in many different areas to increase the

practicality and adaptability of the material.

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Introduction

There is a large market demand for colored textiles. This leads to mass production of

textiles which pollutes our environment. There is also market demand for camouflage which

changes color depending on climate. Our project can solve both problems utilizing

thermochromism in clothing and camouflage. Through giving clothing, the ability to change

color which would create less of a demand for new textiles. Through giving camouflage, the

ability to change color would solve the climate problem. The impact in society would be a

change to sustainability in the textile industry and greater variety in color of dress.

In and or on human textiles there is tendency to have some form of coloring, this coloring

usually varies with season and region. This leads to massive demand for the same type of textile

but in assorted colors, which leads to massive overproduction of textiles. In 2017, the military

spent 1.5 billion dollars on clothing and textiles, according to a study conducted by Statista. This

overproduction textiles creates waste and pollution in our environment. Textiles make up 7% of

global waste and 85% of textiles go to waste and end up in landfills according to Earth.org. One

of the biggest contributors to this is the camouflage industry as there are hundreds if not

thousands of diverse types of camouflage due to the vast diversity in landscape.

The objective of this research is to synthesize a thermochromic dye that is not harmful to

humans, that reacts at regular ambient air temperatures to change to many colors. In addition, for

the research to be effective, it must be completely safe. No harmful or bleeding chemicals can be

used in the pigments or material like any other piece of clothing. The pigments also need to be

practical to apply to a material safely and not cause any additional risk. These pigments also
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need to serve their function and change based on their environment to match it. If you travel into

a cold forest, the camouflage should change to that color and help you blend in. The goal is for

the camouflage to be multipurpose and a person wearing it should not need several distinct types

of camouflage for different areas. One piece of camouflage should be used for a wide variety of

areas and be more efficient than existing camouflage.

Research question

What are the optimum production methods for thermochromic dyes that can change to

many assorted colors at set temperatures?

We are researching whether these pigments could be practical in use for camouflage and

could improve on the problem. This research and experimentation will be done by designing a

prototype with the dyes we can then use to test the functionality.

Literature Review

Dynamic Colour Change of Multifunctional Thermochromic-Fluorescent Pigments

The book’s function is to characterize multifunctional thermochromic-fluorescent

pigments. There’s theoretical application involving security. Our group sees similar applications

within our own project. The book says Leuco dyes based thermochromic (TC) systems are used

as pigments including pigments for plastic, paper, metal, and most importantly for our project,

textile substrates. TC systems require their components, a co-solvent, a developer, and a color

former in the form of Leuco dyes. The rest of the article relates to the specifications of different

combinations of TC systems, which could be used to determine which system is ideal for our

project.
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Thermochromic Polymers-Function by Design

The Article begins by describing Thermochromism as the phenomenon of a color change

with dependence on temperature. This process is exactly what thermochromic clothing requires,

thus the explanation from the article on the chemistry of thermochromism and its real-world

functions helps us develop the necessary techniques to create our design. Although the

phenomenon has been studied by scientists for centuries, its applications have been limited.

However, during the last couple of decades, the field of thermochromism has made progress

through the discovery and effectiveness of pigments based on leuco dyes. Leuco dyes are

cholesteric liquid crystals which when they are incorporated with polymers, form effective

thermochromic composites. The article highlights photonic crystals, nanoparticle-based effects,

dye–dye or polymer–dye aggregation–disaggregation mechanisms.

Photosynthesis

The previous articles are about one process for creating the color changing effect. To

make sure our team looks at all possible avenues, the last article relates to the familiar process of

photosynthesis. There are multiple types of chlorophyll reflect green, but during the sun, due to

the lack of energy, plants cannot synthesis chlorophyll. Thus, the other pigments representing a

brownish red color are more prominent. Because a similar process could be recreated using a

process known as artificial photosynthesis. However, we don’t require full photosynthesis, that is

we don’t require the creation of energy, just the creation of chlorophyll and accelerated

degradation of colors.

Reversable Thermochromism
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The patent presents first a problem and then a solution to said problem. The problem is

on how to obtain a reversible thermochromism composition which can change temperature

required for change even without changing the combination of the electron donating compound.

The solution which the patent gives to the problem is comprised first of an electron donating

compound, and then an electron-accepting compound which is represented by general formula I

X is H or a CnH2n+1 or OCmH2n+1 also it must be UV absorbent. The information from the

patent will be utilized in our project when forming thermochromism compositions of compounds

to ensure a color change based on temperature change in the chemical bonds.

Thermochromism in Commercial Products

The article “Thermochromism in commercial products” by White and LeBlanc is

primarily on sources of thermochromism and some applications of thermochromism. In the form

of liquid crystals. When covering liquid crystals, the article covers how liquid crystals work in

general in terms of orientation and change in structure based on temperature. Additionally, they

cover thermochromism in the form of organic dyes. When covering the topic of thermochromism

in the form of organic dyes, the article explains how dye can be defined as a structure that is

designed to either absorb or be absorbed by, leuco dyes are dyes which due to their names are

indicated to in some states to be colorless. This method of thermochromism through leuco dyes

as the article explains is in truth not actually based on temperature but rather on Ph which may or

may not be temperature sensitive. The information from the article “Thermochromism in

commercial products” will be utilized in our product to better distinguish thermochromism in our

substances and to avoid a substance that only gives off the illusion of thermochromism.

Fused-Fluoran Leuco Dyes with Large Color

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The article “Fused-Fluoran Leuco Dyes with Large Color-Change Derived from Two-

Step Equilibrium: iso-Aminobenzopyranoxanthenes" covers Fluoran leuco dyes. Fluoran Leuco

dyes consist of a xanthene chromophore and a spirolactone ring as a stimulus-responsive site.

These Fluoran Leuco are organic dyes which additionally respond to external stimuli by

changing between colored and colorless forms. In their study two Fluorans are fused resulting in

a large two step color change which was reversed with a corresponding change in temperature

and was observed in a solid state. The article also goes through an Indepth explanation of their

results and provides a link to their methods for the synthesis of the bonds. The information from

the article Fused-Fluoran Leuco Dyes with Large Color-Change Derived from Two-Step

Equilibrium: iso-Aminobenzopyranoxanthenes" will be utilized in our project’s process of dye

synthesis in particular the methods described will be useful and if possible, we will fuse more

than two leuco dyes in our project and this information will be useful in that respect.

Methodology

Design

The design of our prototype, in accordance with the prior goals, is to use a basic plain

white shirt then dyeing over top it. Layering the thermochromic dyes with regular dyes will be

used to create a base color for when the shirt is below the activation temperature and for the shirt

to not be majority black. Layering like this also reduces the amount of thermochromic dye

needed and reduces the cost of production of the prototype. The prototype needs to be usable at

all temperatures and be able to change colors to adapt to the environment. The main temperatures

this research will focus on are Temperate, Subtropical, and Tropical. These areas are common,

often fought over, and host a large population. These factors create a demand for these textiles
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and fabrics in these areas giving use the research. Knowing the areas, we can design a color map

that will be most effective and match the natural color of those areas. Our prototype must blend

into the surroundings and getting the colors and their ratios correct is the main priority in

creating effective camouflage. The colors must also change to the ambient temperature of the

area otherwise the thermochromic dyes will fail to activate. The table below combines the

research into those areas and the general temperatures and colors needed.

Table 1

The table describes the temperature, colors, and locations of different terrain types across the globe

Terrian Type Temperature Color Required Location

Temperate Mean temperature is Green, Black, Dark Western Europe,

about 50 degrees Green, and Brown western North

Fahrenheit with America and some

summers averaging areas surrounding the

70 degrees. Mediterranean.

Subtropical Subtropical terrains Yellow, green, Dark The subtropics are

often vary in Green, and blue. between the tropics

temperature. of cancer and

Typically, they Capricorn such as

remain in between Australia, southeast

68-95 degrees Asia and parts of

Fahrenheit. south America.

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Tropical Tropical rain forests yellow, lime, green, At the equator such

are warm areas that aqua/blue. as northern south

receive much rainfall. America and central

Average temperatures Africia.

range from 70-90

degrees F

After researching the areas, we can find the specific dyes we need for our prototype. For

this initial prototype we used ACE or Atlanta Chemical Engineering to buy the pigments. The

main colors of the areas we need for the thermochromic dyes are Dark Green, Yellow, Black,

Light Green, and Blue. The table below shows the exact thermochromic dyes needed to create

the prototype.

Table 2

The table describes the physical characteristics for the required thermochromic pigments.

Source Activation Starting color Final color Amount

temperature

(Fahrenheit)

ACE 77 degrees Green Yellow 10 g

(Atlanta Chemical

Engineering)

ACE 77 degrees Black Green 20 g

ACE 88 degrees Black Yellow 20 g

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ACE 77 degrees Black Colorless 10 g

ACE 88 degrees Blue Colorless 10 g

Black was the base color for most of the dyes and to prevent most of the prototype being

colorless, we used additional non-thermochromic dyes for layering as mentioned. The dyes

needed, unlike the thermochromic ones, are not specific and can be any brand or type. For this

research we used RIT brand dyes in Light, Dark, and Medium Green to adjust for the missing

colors for the area. The two standard activation temperatures we used for the thermochromic

dyes are 77- and 88-degrees Fahrenheit. These temperatures are common across the globe and

intersect in the areas where the prototype will be used.

The shirt that was used to create the design was a polyester based material that we decided would

be the best as the base as it was used in military textiles. However, when the shirt is worn, body

heat may activate the pigments no matter the weather and we need a material to prevent that. An

insulator should be placed within the shirt to protect the pigments and keep unwanted body heat.

Military camouflage is not just a shirt and contains a uniform and armor underneath for

protection. Both Kevlar and Carbon Fiber are used for this purpose and are both conveniently

insulators. We chose Carbon Fiber as our underlayer as it was cheaper and easier to attach to the

shirt, but both can be used with trivial difference.

Procedure

Finally, using the materials and dyes, the prototype can be synthesized. The first step was

to create the base pattern for the colors and design on the shirt. The design chosen was a simple

and universal military design, only requiring a piece of paper and a pencil.

Figure 1
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The figure shows the template for the prototype that was loosely transferred onto the shirt.

In each area, a distinct color is placed where no color can be adjacent to itself. Each color should

also be equal in the amount of surface area they color and no one color should be the majority.

For the layering, the base color should be placed first, then after it has fully dried, place the

colorless dye overtop. When the dye is above the critical temperature, it will be transparent,

revealing the layer underneath. To create the actual dye from the pigments, according to the

manufacturer's specifications, a neutral ph. binder is needed. Mog Podge is recommended for

this, and when mixed with the pigments with a 15:1 ratio, creates a dye that can be painted on.

For each color, use separate containers and brushes to prevent mixing as the pigment fails when

directly mixed before drying. With the amount of dye we ordered, you can create enough dye to

fully dye at least 3 shirts. After 12 hours, each of the dyes should be dry and the carbon fiber can

be sown underneath the shirt.

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Risks

The risks of our research are minimal as one of our goals is to have dyes to safe for

regular human use. The dyes cannot be harmful to humans or animals, and they can be worn

without any danger. Any mixing of the dyes will be done in a safe lab environment and

precautions will be put in places to further minimize any risks that might appear.

Data Analysis

To analyze the functionality of the prototype, we can use qualitive observation to

determine its ability to camouflage. It can be tested in different environments with temperature

that the prototype should change color in and observe if the prototype accurately adapts to the

unique environment. This can be repeated for each assorted color of the thermochromic

pigments, and we can determine the practicality of our research. The prototype will then be

analyzed to see if it addressed the research problem and meets our engineering goals.

Limitations

For the demonstration prototype, we only dyed the front of the shirt due to how long it

takes to apply the dye without a machine. On a large scale, it is possible to mass produce the

shirts, applying each layer at once but the machinery is too expensive for this research. The

prototype also cannot be tested in all the environments directly, but this is not required to find the

functionality as projections can be made. Lighting may be an issue in this case but should not

affect the results enough where a conclusion cannot be made.

Results
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Figure 2

The shirt is the completed thermochromic prototype.

Above is the finished prototype used to test the thermochromic camouflage. To test how

the dyes change color, a heat gun was applied to the surface of the shirt, heating it above the

critical temperature. The prototype should start black and as it is heated, green and yellow should

appear and make the shirt appear more vibrant.

Figure 3

The figure compares the shirt before and after heat was applied.
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Before After

From the test, the color change worked effectively and changed the coloring and layering

of the camouflage effectively. After only 5 seconds from being heated the dye slowly turned

from black into green and yellow. The colors overall went from cool to warm, from cold to hot

temperature. After the heat gun was removed it took 2 and a half minutes for the colors to return

to normal. To test how the camouflage works in its surroundings we compared it side by side to a

forest in Virginia as a control and to a Temperate Forest in Europe and Tropical Forest on the

equator.

Figure 4

The figure shows the completed prototype being tested in a proper environment.
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In the control test above, the prototype was placed in a typical forest in ambient

temperatures around 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The camouflage performed as expected and

did not stand out too much but was not the best to fully disguise. The colors are darker than the

forest but if not for the white, it would be hard to see. In night conditions, the camouflage works

much more effectively with the darker colors and the prototype could still be used in these areas.

Next a picture of the prototype was placed next to a picture of a Temperature Forest in

Europe. For this forest, the ambient temperature was from 55-65 degrees Fahrenheit, below both

critical temperatures. Thus, we compared the image to the prototype before any color change as

seen below. The darker colors work effectively to camouflage in the darker forests of Europe and

under the same lighting would appear much more like the background. The greens are a bit too

light, but this is because of the prototype being at room temperature and some parts of the dyes
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are not at their base color. In the shade of the forest, we can safely say that the prototype will

work to reduce the chance of soldiers being spotted in these forests

Figure 5

The figure shows how the prototype would compare to environments in Europe.

As compared to Temperate Forest, Tropical Forests are warmer at around 80 to 90

degrees in the warmer months. These temperatures would activate the thermochromic dyes and

cause the shirt to adapt to warmer colors. With the after picture of the prototype, we compared it

to a Tropical Forest to test its adaptability and main research focus. The test proved a success

with the warmer colors being a good match to the environment. As shown below, the light greens

and yellows that appear when the prototype is heated match the lighter colors of the hotter forest.

Overall, the prototype works better in the Tropical environment than the Temperate one, and all

three tests demonstrate the success of the prototype.

Figure 6

The figure shows how the prototype would compare to tropical environments.
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Conclusion and Discussion

This research shows how thermochromic pigments can be effectively used to create

adaptive camouflage based on changes in temperature. The prototype passed the qualitative tests,

and it can be concluded that the camouflage would be effective in answering our research question

and objective. The dyes are not harmful and can even be washed and treated like regular laundry.

The production method outlined produced a near optimal prototype for thermochromic camouflage

and it can be replicated. Upon testing the prototype, we demonstrated that the product itself is

practical and effective camouflage and can provide an advantage over standard camouflage. The

prototype can be used in many different areas and adapt to them, unlike regular camo stuck at one

color and one location. Advancements can be made in the field to mass produce a more effective

camouflage for long term use. The research overall removes the limitation that certain camouflages

have of being too specific in the areas they can be used in. Before if the wrong camouflage is

chosen, there would be no turning back, but with an adaptive camouflage, there is a better chance

of evading detection and bullet fire. This research can be further optimized and since the dyes can

be layered and stacked, truly universal camouflage is possible. More colors and different can be
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added to enhance the prototype further and create a far more efficient base design for camouflage.

Further research into the colors needed for specific areas across the globe can make the design

practical for almost any use case. The design we created is cheap as well and the only difference

is that the dyes themselves may be more expensive than current, but it provides a far better use. In

conclusion, thermochromic pigments can be cheaply and effectively used in camouflage to

increase the practicality and adaptability of the material and can lead to better evasion in many

different areas across the globe.

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Sources

Dynamic Color Change of Multifunctional Thermochromic-Fluorescent Pigments. (2016). Trans

Tech Publications.

Seeboth, Lötzsch, D., Ruhmann, R., & Muehling, O. (2014). Thermochromic Polymers Function

by Design. Chemical Reviews, 114(5), 3037–3068. https://doi.org/10.1021/cr400462e

Bühlmann. (2019). Photosynthesis. Philosophy Today (Celina), 63(4), 1037–1050.

https://doi.org/10.5840/philtoday2020124310

Nakajima Akio, & Ono Yoshiaki. (2002). Reversible Thermochromism Composition Having

Improved Light Resistance and Product Espacenet - Bibliographic data

White, M. A., & LeBlanc, M. (1999). Thermochromism in Commerical products. Journal of

Chemical Education, 76(9), 1201-1205.

Shirasaki, Okamoto, Y., Muranaka, A., Kamino, S., Sawada, D., Hashizume, D., & Uchiyama,

M. (2016). Fused-Fluoran Leuco Dyes with Large Color-Change Derived from Two-

Step

Equilibrium: iso-Aminobenzopyranoxanthenes. Journal of Organic Chemistry, 81(23), 12046–

12051.

Berets. (2009). UV-Vis Diffuse Reflectance of Thermochromic Materials Including Color-

Changing Paint.

Fabiani. (2020). Thermochromic materials for indoor thermal comfort improvement: Finite

difference modeling and validation in a real case-study building.

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Liu (2023) Multicolor-tunable biomass thermochromic dyes utilizing tea polyphenols color

developer for temperature-controlled linen fabric

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Appendices

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions were provided by Atlanta chemical Engineering (ACE).

Q. Are thermochromic products stable under direct sunlight?

A. If exposed to direct sunlight for a long time, the ultraviolet rays from the sun will destroy

thermochromic products. However, for cases that require some degree of UV stability for the

specific application, protection can be achieved by using UV protection coating.

Q. Do your products contain any hazardous components to my health?

A. No. The thermochromic pigments and our water-based paints and inks are NON-toxic

products conform to ASTM 4236 standard. However, we recommend you follow the general

rules for personal protection – wear latex gloves and protective glasses. Thermochromic products

should not be ingested!

Q. What is the shelf life of your thermochromic products?

A. The shelf life for the paints and inks is up to 1 year. The pigments last for more than one year

depending on the storage conditions. For longer shelf life, we recommend keeping the

thermochromic materials in a cool, dark, and dry place.

Q. Can different thermochromic products be mixed?

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A. We do not recommend mixing our products with assorted colors and activation temperatures.

Q. What is the maximum heating temperature and time of your thermochromic paints and inks

once they are already painted and dried?

A. The maximum heating temperature should not exceed 320°F (160°C). The elevated

temperature of the heating should not exceed 2 minutes.

Q. Can I apply a clear paint sealer to lock the surface painted with the thermochromic paint/ink?

What if the sealer contains strong organic solvents?

A. The clear paint sealer will not interfere with the color changing process. It is OK if the sealer

contains strong organic solvents. Since they are not mixed with the thermochromic product at the

liquid stage, the thermochromic paint/ink will not be affected.

Q. Can your fabric paints be used on leather?

A. Yes, the products are safe to use on leather and most textiles.

Q. I printed my name on a T-shirt using your thermochromic fabric paint. Can I wash it along

with my other clothes using regular detergent?

A. Yes, you can. Our product is resistant to most of the detergents, hot water and bleach.

Q. I would like the bowl of my floor lamp to stay colored during the day and change back to

white when I light it up. The bowl is made of plastic, so is it possible to use your thermochromic

paint on this kind of surface?

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A. Yes, our thermochromic paint could be applied on most plastics, metals, ceramics, glass and

many other materials.