REPAIR OF THICK FIBERGLASS REINFORCED PLASTIC STRUCTURES

A MAJOR CONCERN FOR MAINTAINING THE PERFORMANCE OF VEHICLE PROTECTED BY FIBER REINFORCED PLASTIC (COMPOSITE) ARMOR IS THE REPAIR OF BATTLE FIELD BALLISTIC DAMAGE. THIS FIELD REPAIR MUST BE RAPID, SIMPLE AND RESTORE THE VEHICLE TO ABOUT 90% PERFORMANCE. SUCH A NEW SIMPLE, RAPID REINFORCED (COMPOSITE) ARMOR FIELD REPAIR SYSTEM IF PROPOSED BASED ON A NEW ULTRA VIOLET CURABLE THERMOSET PREPREG AND NEW REPAIR TECHNIQUES. THIS PROPOSED REPAIR SYSTEM WILL HAVE SIX MONTH STOREABILITY, REQUIRE NO EXTERNAL HEAT, IS COMFORMABLE, HAS EXCELLENT PHYSICAL PROPERTIES, IS SIMPLE TO USE, RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE AND CAN CURE IN 5 MINUTES. IT ALSO REQUIRES NO MIXING, HAS NO OFFENSIVE FUMES, AND REQUIRES ONLY A PORTABLE ULTRA VIOLET LAMP OR ORDINARY SUNLIGHT. AN EVALUATION OF THE OPTIMUM REPAIR/PREPREG CONFIGURATION WILL BE MADE, TEST PIECES REPAIRED, AND A PROTOTYPE REPAIR SYSTEM DEMONSTRATED FOR THE ARMY.