Development of New Processes for the Refurbishment of Infrared Search and Track (IRST) Germanium (Ge) Domes

After extensive exposure to adverse environments such as sandstorms, rain, and fog, germanium (Ge) Infrared Search and Track (IRST) domes develop pits and surface damage, which accumulates over time eventually reducing the average transmission to below acceptable limits. New domes are quite costly since they are produced from single-crystal germanium (Ge) with very sophisticated inner and outer surface coatings. A process is needed that is capable of restoring the damaged domes to a state or condition that meet all of the imaging and environmental requirements of the original dome. Surmet has developed a portfolio of technologies that will be drawn upon to establish such a refurbishment process. The first step is to remove the damaged surface layer, replace it with a thick, durable and machinable coating layer, refigure the surface of the coated dome and then apply a durable anti-reflection (DAR) coating to provide abrasion resistance and enhance transmission. In addition to yielding a compliant dome, the refurbishment process will also improve the dome's durability.