Erosion studies of infrared dome materials

Roger M. Sullivan; Andrew Phelps; James A. Kirsch; Earle A. Welsh; Daniel C. Harris

doi:10.1117/12.719966

2 May 2007 Erosion studies of infrared dome materials

Roger M. Sullivan, Andrew Phelps, James A. Kirsch, Earle A. Welsh, Daniel C. Harris

Proceedings Volume 6545, Window and Dome Technologies and Materials X; 65450G (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.719966
Event: Defense and Security Symposium, 2007, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

The testing reported in this paper operationalized the material requirement: An infrared transparent dome material must be at least as good as magnesium fluoride in rain tests and substantially better than magnesium fluoride in sand tests. Sand erosion test conclusions, based on changes in midwave infrared transmission, are that Cleartran^TM with the protective coating system tested is not substantially more resistant to large grain sand erosion damage than magnesium fluoride. ALON^TM and spinel are substantially more resistant to large grain sand erosion damage than magnesium fluoride. There is no significant transmission difference due to small grain sand erosion observed between any of the tested coupons. Qualitative analysis of coupon damage after exposure to an artificial rain field on a whirling arm showed that ALON^TM and spinel are at least as rain erosion resistant as magnesium fluoride, but the coated Cleartran^TM coupons delaminated rapidly under the same rain test conditions. Testing coupons exposed sequentially to the milder sand condition followed by the whirling arm rain erosion test demonstrated that magnesium fluoride rain resistance is diminished in the combined test, but that ALON^TM and spinel retain their robust resistance. Coated Cleartran^TM delaminated under the combined conditions as well. It is noteworthy that the results reported for the midwave infrared range also apply to the near infrared region above 1 micron.

Citation Download Citation

Roger M. Sullivan, Andrew Phelps, James A. Kirsch, Earle A. Welsh, and Daniel C. Harris "Erosion studies of infrared dome materials", Proc. SPIE 6545, Window and Dome Technologies and Materials X, 65450G (2 May 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.719966

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