Repair Coating Containing Nanoparticle Fillers for Transparent Armor

Recently, in environments such as Iraq and Afghanistan, sand-induced damage has becomes a serious issue. Solders have found that abraded and scratched surfaces significantly degrade optical clarity and the usefulness of the transparent armors. To repair the damaged armors, a convenient, low cost, simple to use repair system is desired. To address these needs, EIC Laboratories proposes to develop a field curable repair coating containing optically transparent nanoparticle fillers. Research results have predicted and experimentally confirmed that nanoparticles can be functionalized such that when incorporated into a compatible polymeric coating, they will selectively migrate into cracks. Based on these research results, EIC Laboratories has designed an easy to apply coating that will selectively migrate to cracks, adhere to the surface, and restore optical transparency without distortion. A coating formulation composition, which is fundamentally highly economical, was demonstrated Phase I which provides 90-100% recovery of optical clarity in sand-damage hardcoated polycarbonate substrates used in most military goggles. Phase II will entail further optimization of the coating composition and cure properties, scale-up of the synthesis, development of a field-worthy coating application kit, and extensive testing with standard issue goggle lenses. The Phase III goal is depot-level dissemination of the repair kits through procurement by the Army and other relevant military end-users.