Laser Eye Protective Technology Polycarbonate Visor with Metal Oxide Nanoparticles

To protect the vision of Air Force aircrew and personnel from near-infrared (NIR) light (700 nm to 1350 nm), Luminit, LLC proposes to design and fabricate a new Laser Eye Protection polycarbonate visor incorporating high NIR absorbing nanocomposites (LEP-POLY_NANO).  Surface-modified metal oxide nanoparticles can be incorporated into highly curved and complex-shaped visors during molding to create a passive barrier that protects against continuous wave and pulsed laser emissions without angular dependence.  These nanocomposites are responsible for strong NIR absorption band from 700 nm to 1350 nm, yet they retain a high transmittance of the 380 nm to 700 nm visible band.  Due to the nanocomposite size, this new technology will not introduce haze, distortion, aberration, prism or artifacts that would impair visual performance or create distractions in the visual field, and it will not degrade the ballistic protection properties of the polycarbonate.  In Phase I, Luminit will assess the technology feasibility and demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed technology by designing, fabricating, and validating an LEP-POLY_NANO that meets Air Force specifications for LEP.  Phase II will focus on technology optimization and on carrying out the technology development plan to deliver visors incorporating LEP-POLY_NANO technology with supporting performance data. BENEFIT: The LEP-POLY_NANO developed in this project can be manufactured as highly curved and complex-shaped visors for laser eye protection for both the military and civilian commercial markets.  This unique process, incorporating the nanocomposites with high NIR absorption and high visible light transmittance, make it welcome for occupational and industrial safety in any field that employs lasers.  Commercial and military pilots, tank drivers, gunners, missile control personnel, laser researchers and laser surgery personnel are a few examples of markets that would readily embrace the proposed LEP-POLY_NANO technology.