Scratch Removal from Acrylic Windscreens

Transparencies have a limited lifespan on military aircraft from pitting and deep scratches with limited repair opportunity, resulting in high scrap rates. While the direct cost of replacement transparencies is not prohibitive, the aircraft downtime and the person hours to replace the windshield can be significant. Current technology is to hand-polish acrylic windshields with a combination of chemical and mechanical slurry. Creare proposes the Scratch Characterization Tool (SCT) and the Transparency Repair System (TRS). The SCT is a modified version of the commercial product that Creare developed to measure surface profile in a handheld device. The proposed TRS attaches directly to an aircraftís windshield or other transparency and spray coats the defect, leaving a Gaussian spatial distribution of smooth, transparent polymer to fill cracks. In the Phase I Base, we plan on testing key components of the TRS and developing a process for the transparency repair. In the Phase I Option, we will select components and begin the Phase II design. In the Phase II, we plan on finishing the design, building and testing the TRS along with the SCT modifications and to complete a depot level demonstration.Ý