Laser-Assisted Coating Repair

To address the U.S. Air Force need to repair scratches in ITO coatings on aircraft canopies and lamp housings, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes in Phase II to continue developing a new Laser-Assisted Coating Repair (LACR) system. LACR is based on laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT), coating thin films without the need for a highly controlled environment. The novel use of interchangeable focusing adaptive lenses and the new transparent layered repair patch (LaRP) enables the LACR system with its hand-held repair unit to quickly repair scratches to indium tin oxide (ITO) coatings in a variety of shapes and sizes without removing the damaged assembly. In Phase I, POC successfully demonstrated the feasibility of LACR by producing high-quality ITO film with low resistivity and high optical transmittance. In Phase II POC plans to package the system in a small hand-held repair unit tethered to the laser medium and cooling system through durable optical fibers. The repair unit applies flexible LaRP in a tape and reel format to continuously provide fresh ITO material to repair damaged surfaces, regardless of their level of curvature.