Near Net Shape Forming of AlON or Spinel

This program will establish a low-cost aluminum oxynitride (AlON) process capable of producing windows and domes for Joint Common Missile and other seeker applications. The program will achieve lower window production cost through net-shape or near-net shape forming of the ceramic window blank to reduce the time and effort required for grinding and polishing domes to the final dimensions. Using MSI's existing AlON powder production and densification processes, novel wet-forming processes that are known to be compatible with high volume manuifacturing, such as injection molding, will be evaluated for green dome forming to near net shape. Production cost savings will be confirmed by polishing Phase I dome samples and estimating full scale production costs based on MSI's established cost models.