Advanced Sealant for Next-Generation Transparent Armor Service Life

Transparent Armor (TA) systems are currently deployed on all Marine Corps armored vehicles. TA systems are constructed of multiple layers of glass laminated together with a spall liner to protect the occupants inside the vehicle. Existing TA designs are experiencing early-life delamination and creating a significant cost and maintenance burden on the Marine Corps. New adhesive sealant chemistries are necessary to improve the environmental durability of the TA armor stacks to reduce delamination propensity and increase service life. Luna is developing an advanced quick-cure potting sealant to provide a consistent, chemically stable, and low off-gassing bond between the TA stack and the metallic frames they are inserted into for vehicle mounting. The new potting sealant will be more environmentally stable and chemically compatible with existing urethane adhesives that are common to TA laminating processes. This will result in greater long-term TA laminate bond strength, resulting in longer service life compared to existing sealant technology. A combination of unique TA coupon test design and accelerated environmental exposure testing will aid in rapid development of the sealant and demonstration of improved service life.