Optically Clear Canopy Repair Adhesive

This six-month program will demonstrate that a UV light cured repair resin for aircraft canopies is practical and that the repair will have good optical clarity, good structural physical properties, and good adhesion. (Sunrez has already demonstrated that its light cured resins for an exploratory acrylic canopy repair are simple and rapid using sunlight as the light source.) The program will initially develop optical repair resins for both acrylic and polycarbonate canopies. However the principal focus of Phase I will be on the development of acrylic canopies. The repair patch will require a reinforcement fiber which will be optically clear when cured in the resin to form the overall patch. In addition to developing the patch, initial work on the proper repair procedures for these canopies with this new light cured patch will be performed. The success of this program will demonstrate a practical optically clear, structural patch for aircraft canopies along with the repair techniques. Phase II will optimize this patch system and produce the corresponding patch for polycarbonate canopies.