Optically Transparent, Ballistic Protective HybridSil Armor for Combat Vehicles

The objective of this Phase I SBIR program is to adapt NanoSonic"s HybridSil armor technology for use as low cost, lightweight transparent ballistic materials for U.S. Army combat vehicles. The proposed effort will be an extension of NanoSonic"s HybridSil ballistic / blast protective core technology which has independently validated durability against landmine explosives, V50 values>4,000 ft/s to 3/8"A36 steel panels, and exceptional flame resistance. HybridSil has also been engineered to provide transparent high velocity fragment protective coatings for polycarbonate combat eyewear and will be further augmented during this program to provide next generation optically transparent armor capable of meeting threat level 3A per ATPD 2352P while affording an areal density of 1.25 g / cm3, cost of $15.0 / sq. inch. To that end, a series of transparent HybridSil panels will be produced and qualified for threat level 3A durability with team partner SwRI. Further, predictive models will be generated to conceptually optimize candidate armor materials. In support of a rapid transition to M-ATV side windows, HybridSil resins have a current production capacity of 4,000 lbs / day, a MRL of 4, and have been integrated onto combat active DoD platforms for trial evaluations.