Magnesium aluminate spinel is a durable electro-optical material with high visible through mid-IR transmission. Technology Assessment and Transfer (TA and T) reports on their efforts to integrate electromagnetic interference protection into spinel domes through the use of metallic grids. TA and T is developing an approach to embed noble metal EMI grids in spinel domes by encapsulating the grid with a germanate glass that has matching refractive index and coefficient of thermal expansion to spinel. Achievements to date and an outlook on this method as a viable manufacturing route are presented.
A comprehensive suite of NDE/NDI methods has been developed to rapidly inspect transparent ceramic domes for wide range of critical defects in order to identify and mitigate dome manufacturing issues and improve yield through the reduction or elimination thereof. A matrix of hot-pressed (HP), hot isostatically pressed and pressureless sintered (PS) spinel samples with a range of defect types and a variety of surface conditions were inspected using six different, yet complimentary, nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods. In summary, the combination of three such methods demonstrated the capability to detect all the critical defects with statistical significance for shop floor inspection of spinel domes. The equipment is relatively inexpensive and easy to use, and offers significant payoffs of improved yields and reduced finishing costs by detecting defects prior to the expensive grinding and polishing steps.
Magnesium aluminate spinel is a durable, broadband, electro-optical material that can be readily manufactured into
transparent domes for multimode seeker applications. Technology Assessment & Transfer, Inc. reports on the results of
its Army SBIR-funded research and development efforts to resolve manufacturing issues with regard to transparent
spinel domes. The specific areas of study have been cost, quality, and ability to scale up to full production. Alternative
manufacturing approaches were evaluated and compared. A clear path to full scale production has been identified.
Magnesium aluminate spinel is a durable, broadband, electro-optical material that can be readily manufactured into
transparent domes for multimode seeker applications. Technology Assessment & Transfer reports on the results of its
research and development effort to resolve manufacturing issues with regard to transparent spinel domes. The specific
areas of study have been cost, quality, and ability to scale up to full production. Alternative manufacturing approaches
were evaluated and compared.
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