Transparent Nanoporous Glass-Polymer Composite for U.S. Army Applications

Abstract

This report explores the manufacturing of a novel transparent polymer-glass composite. The material is created by infiltrating nanoporous glass (Vycor, Corning Inc.) with different polymers. The Vycor pores (4-6 nm) are much smaller than the wavelength of light thus, refractive index matching with the polymer is not necessary for transparency. Close to 90% of the pore volume can be filled by soaking the porous glass in methyl methacrylate and polymerizing in situ. The resulting composite is 95% transparent with excellent clarity, extremely low haze, and an elastic modulus that is well predicted by micromechanics.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2008
Accession Number
ADA494000

Entities

People

  • Daniel J. O'brien
  • Parimal J. Patel
  • Steven H. McKnight
  • Thomas F. Juliano

Organizations

  • United States Army Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acoustic Impedance
  • Alkenes
  • Composite Materials
  • Failure Mode And Effect Analysis
  • Glass
  • Materials
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Mechanics
  • Micromechanics
  • Modulus Of Elasticity
  • Nanocomposites
  • Optical Properties
  • Physical Properties
  • Polymer Matrix Composites
  • Refractive Index
  • Stresses

Fields of Study

  • Materials science

Readers

  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Polymer Science and Engineering.
  • Surface Coatings Technology.