Low cost fabrication of high IR transmission and hardness aspheric composite ceramic windows

The objective of this SBIR Phase I effort is to develop an innovative fabrication method to produce high IR transmission and hardness aspheric window, which includes following major efforts: First, a unique composite ceramic material will be developed, which not only is highly transparent over a broad visible-to-IR spectral range (compatible to ZnS and CaF2), but also has a much higher strength and hardness than that of ZnS and CaF2. Second, a novel low cost manufacturing process will be developed, which can be used to fabricate the complex shape aspheric window based on our proposed transparent composite ceramics at low cost. Third, the performance of the fabricated aspheric composite ceramic window will be thoroughly investigated. The major optical, thermal, and mechanical properties such as transmittance, refractive index, mechanical strength, the thermal expansion coefficients will be quantitatively measured. A 3"reagent grade hyper-hemispherical dome will be fabricated at the Phase I stage, which will lay down a solid foundation to fabricate full size 12"dome at the Phase II stage. We will also actively pursue the commercialization of our unique IR transmitting aspheric window for the following killer applications such as domes, transparent armor, broadband sensors, et al.