Hyperspectral Infrared (IR) Windows

Multispectral zinc sulfide (ZnS) because of its good visible and near infrared transmission as well as the 3-5 micron and, more importantly, the 8-12 micron range along with its good thermal shock resistance is one of a number of materials used as infrared windows.  The window serves to protect the sensitive infrared sensors during flight.  As such, it is critical that the infrared window withstand heating and resist long term erosion from raindrops and dust encountered during flight.  Multispectral ZnS windows have good thermal shock resistance but poor erosion resistance so they require a protective coating.   The requirements for protective coatings for infrared domes include high rigidity (modulus), good transmission in the near IR, the 3-5 and 8-14 micron range, strong adhesion to the infrared dome material as well as, matched thermal conductivity, antireflection capability, and minimal infrared emission when heated among other things.  In this program Nanohmics, proposes to examine a protective coating for ZnS windows which has been patterned using a novel method.   BENEFIT: Protective coatings will have many applications both inside and outside the military.  The market size can rapidly grow from millions of dollars for specialized coating of infrared windows into the 10s to 100s of millions of dollars for coating of commercial windshields and other optical components.