Development of Zinc Sulfide Seeker Window Material
Abstract
This report presents the thermophysical property data measured on Zinc Sulfide seeker window material. The overall objective of this research and development effort is to establish an alternate seeker window material as contrasting to the currently used THAAD sapphire window and validate the predictions for an alternate seeker window material, multispectral zinc sulfide, by conducting thermal and structural testing of ZnS coupons. Vicus Technologies LLC has teamed with Lockheed Martin Space Company to evaluate and validate the capability of multispectral zinc sulfide seeker window material. The use of zinc sulfide as a replacement window for the current sapphire offers significant increase in waveband and reduced costs for the final interceptor window (70%-80%. reduction as compared to sapphire). Zinc sulfide is currently available from a number of manufacturers and the selected material for this evaluation was Cleartran , a product of Rohm & Haas. Cleartran is a multispectral version of zinc sulfide where Hot-Isostatic Pressing is used to post-process the material which increases its waveband by removing porosity from the material.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 15, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA432111