LUNA INNOVATIONS INCORPORATED — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: A14-079

Description

Low velocity rock strike damage to ground vehicle ballistic glass windshields is a prevalent problem for military convoys deployed in remote desert locations. The repetitive impact to the glass can cause cracking leading to reduced vision and ballistic protection and more frequent repairs or replacement of damaged windows. There is a substantial need for tough, abrasion resistant transparent armor systems to provide protection from repetitive low velocity impacts. To this end, Luna Innovations Incorporated proposes a tough polyurethane encapsulated glass transparent armor panel for incorpoaration into current transparent armor systems. The polyurethane will be formulated for high impact resistance and will include an outer surface abrasion resistant coating. The glass armor panel will be specially designed to allow for encapsulation in the polyurethane resulting in a tough transparent armor system. The novel design of the glass results in less material reducing the weight of the glass plates and therefore the weight of the armor material. This unique transparent armor material design will provide enhanced rock strike protection at a reduced weight while maintaining equivalent ballistic protection.