Transparent composite material
AssigneeMcDonnell Douglas Corporation
InventorsRaymond J. Skubic, James O. Stoffer, Delbert E. Day, Steven E. Baldini
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Abstract
A transparent composite material, which may take the form of a plate, includes a polymeric matrix and glass fibers embedded within the matrix. The polymer of the matrix and the glass of the fibers are transparent and have substantially the same index of refraction. A bond exists between the glass of the fibers and the polymer of the matrix. The composite may be formed by immersing the fibers in a monomer and then curing the monomer to a polymer.
Claims17
A transparent composite material suitable for use by itself as a glazing material in a window, said material comprising:
- a transparent polymeric matrix having exposed major surface areas and a peripheral edge;
- fibers of transparent glass embedded within the matrix, the fibers being continuous within the matrix so that their ends are at the peripheral edge and the fibers are uninterrupted between their ends, the index of refraction for the polymer of the matrix being substantially the same as the index of refraction for the glass of the fibers, so that the fibers are imperceptible in the matrix;
- and a coupling agent coating the fibers and bonding the fibers to the matrix, such that the composite material so formed remains transparent.
A transparent material suitable for use by itself as a glazing material in a window, said material comprising:
- a polymeric matrix having edges and first and second surfaces circumscribed by the edges, the first and second surfaces being exposed;
- and a multitude of glass fibers embedded within the matrix, the glass of the fibers and the polymer of the matrix being transparent and having substantially the same index of refraction, substantially all of the fibers extending from edge to edge and being continuous between the edges to which they extend.
A process for forming a transparent composite material, said process comprising:
- immersing glass fibers within a monomer containing a bonding agent so that the fibers are essentially continuous through the monomer:
- and curing the monomer so that it becomes a polymer which forms a matrix in which the fibers are embedded, with the ends of the fibers being at the peripheral edge of the matrix and the glass of the fibers being bonded to the polymer of the matrix by the bonding agent;
- both the polymer and the glass being transparent, with the polymer having an index of refraction that is substantially the same as the index of refraction for the glass of the fibers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.