Rotoun Patents | How to Manufacture Radomes with Low Transmission Loss

The Rotoun Patents column continues to interpret authorized patents from Rotoun Plastic Group. In the previous article, we introduced the patent for air‑purifiable rotomolded playground components. This issue focuses on radar protective components. We will walk through a utility‑model patent for radomes with reduced electromagnetic‑wave loss and explain how to achieve low‑transmission‑loss radome products.

Patent Title: Radome with Low Transmission Loss

Patent No.: ZL 2019 2 1634718.0

For radar and microwave‑detection equipment, radomes are critical components that protect radar antennas. They must withstand external environmental hazards including wind, rain, UV radiation and mechanical impact, while enabling smooth penetration of electromagnetic waves. Conventional radomes face multiple practical challenges:

▫️ High electromagnetic‑wave transmission loss. Ordinary radome shells feature relatively high dielectric constants, causing severe energy attenuation when electromagnetic waves pass through, which impairs radar detection accuracy and detection range.

▫️ Difficult trade‑off between wave‑transmitting performance and structural strength. To improve wave‑transmittance, material density is usually reduced, which often results in insufficient shell compression‑resistance and impact‑resistance.

▫️ Weak inter‑layer bonding force. Multi‑layer composite‑structure radomes are prone to inter‑layer delamination and cracking under long‑term outdoor exposure with alternating high‑low temperature and humidity.

▫️ Excessive self‑weight. Solid thick‑wall structures increase overall weight and raise installation and load‑bearing burdens for radar equipment.

▫️ Insufficient weather resistance. Long‑term outdoor exposure accelerates material ageing, gradually altering dielectric properties and destabilizing radar operation.

To solve these industry pain points, Rotoun Plastic Group’s R&D team innovatively designed a radome adopting multi‑layer composite and hollow annular‑tube structures. This low‑transmission‑loss radome has been granted a national utility‑model patent.Core Technical Highlights of This Patent

✅ Dual‑layer composite shell with well‑defined functional zones. The inner wave‑transmitting layer guarantees efficient penetration of electromagnetic waves, while the outer protective layer provides outdoor weather‑resistance and impact‑resistance, separating wave‑transmission and protective functions.

✅ Hollow annular‑tube structure lowers dielectric constant. Hollow annular tubes are arranged at intervals along the shell extension direction, combined with foaming technology. The overall dielectric constant is effectively reduced, electromagnetic‑wave transmittance is greatly improved and transmission loss is minimized.

✅ Stronger inter‑layer bonding against delamination. The specially‑designed composite structure enhances bonding strength between multi‑layers and reduces risks of inter‑layer separation caused by temperature variation and mechanical impact.

✅ Light‑weight design to cut equipment load. The hollow structure reduces solid‑material consumption. Self‑weight of the radome is lowered while mechanical performance remains intact, mitigating load‑bearing pressure for equipment installation.

✅ Balanced weather resistance and mechanical performance. The outer protective layer resists sunlight and rain. The whole structure delivers good compression‑resistance and impact‑resistance for stable long‑term operation under complex outdoor conditions.Practical Application ScenariosScenario 1: Protective covers for meteorological‑monitoring radar equipment

Meteorological radars work in open‑air environments and demand stable wave‑transmission performance and excellent weather resistance. This patented radome features low electromagnetic‑wave loss together with anti‑ageing and impact‑resistant properties, ensuring stable and reliable meteorological detection data.

Scenario 2: Protective housings for security‑monitoring radar

Perimeter‑security radars are widely deployed in the wild, factory zones, border areas and other harsh outdoor environments. Radomes must protect internal antennas without weakening detection signals, suitable for all‑weather long‑term monitoring.

Scenario 3: Small‑size radome for vehicle‑mounted and ship‑borne radar

Vehicle‑mounted and ship‑borne radar equipment is highly sensitive to component weight. This light‑weight structure reduces equipment load, maintains efficient electromagnetic‑wave transmission and defends against vibration impact and salt‑spray erosion.

Scenario 4: Protective covers for low‑altitude detection and millimeter‑wave radar

Low‑altitude security and compact detection radars set strict requirements for radome wave‑transmitting performance. The low‑transmission‑loss structural design reduces signal attenuation and guarantees detection sensitivity.Core Values This Patent Brings to Customers

🔹 Reduce electromagnetic‑wave transmission loss. Lower dielectric constant improves wave transmittance, decreases signal attenuation and enhances radar detection accuracy.

🔹 Light‑weight structure lowers equipment load. Hollow construction cuts material consumption and overall weight, lowering load‑bearing‑design requirements for brackets and carriers.

🔹 Balance protective performance and signal performance. The outer protective layer provides weather and impact resistance. Multi‑layer composite structure reinforces inter‑layer bonding and extends outdoor service life of radomes.

🔹 Improved structural stability. Hollow annular tubes act as supporting frameworks to boost overall compression‑resistance and impact‑resistance and resist damage in harsh outdoor environments.

🔹 Adaptable to multiple radar‑equipment scenarios. Modular structural concept supports shape adjustment according to radar outlines, suitable for development of meteorological, security, vehicle‑mounted and other radar products.

This patent represents a structural innovation for radar‑protection components and reflects Rotoun’s continuous dedication to special‑plastic structural‑part research. Oriented toward real‑world working conditions, Rotoun solves electromagnetic‑wave‑transmission‑loss challenges via structural optimization, enabling radomes to realize both reliable signal penetration and robust physical protection.

The Rotoun Patents column will keep updating. Stay tuned for our next interpretation of Rotoun’s self‑developed patents.

What practical experience or puzzles have you encountered in radome‑material selection and wave‑transmitting structural design? Feel free to leave your comments and join the discussion.