Technique for Passive Hardening Against Natural and Induced Environments

A newly demonstrated technology (patent pending) offers unique solutions to some of the problems presented. The process is called Laser Induced Surface Improvement (LISI). Two years of laboratory development/testing have demonstrated its ability to produce surface alloys with interesting characteristics. Surfaces are composed of a nonequilibrium alloy of the substrate and selected precursor materials, are nonporous and crack-free, have controlled thickness from 10 to 1000 microns, and have a molecular bond that will not separate with physical abuse or thermal variations. Thus it is feasible to produce a protective surface OA a substrate material (e.g., aluminum) that provides protection from atomic oxygen, micrometeorites/debris and ballistic impact, and is tolerant to mechanical and thermal impulses. The choice of precursor material mixtures is endless and the manufacturing process has been adaptable to a wide variety of alloys and refractories. The LISI process is environmentally friendly, requires little or AO cleaning of the substrate material, needs AO special environment for application, and is relatively inexpensive. Phase I will optimize the LISI process for selected material Combinations and produce samples suitable for analysis and testing. Phase II will move to the treatment and evaluation of actual hardware and its testing in a realistic environment.