Dual mode radar transparency and method of fabricating same
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorsKenneth C. Radford, Deborah P. Partlow, Jay E. Lane, Andrew J. Piloto
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A dual mode radar transparency allowing passage of both RF radiation and IR radiation comprises an aerogel base and ceramic skin overlaying the aerogel base. The aerogel base comprises a low density ceramic material. A method of fabricating a dual mode radar transparency allowing passage of both RF radiation and IR radiation comprises the steps of preparing a colloidal dispersion of a ceramic material in a medium, increasing a concentration of the colloidal dispersion by evaporation to create a suspension, and placing the suspension in a mold. The suspension is solidified to form an aerogel and the aerogel is joined to a ceramic skin.
Claims31
A dual mode radar transparency allowing passage of both RF radiation and IR radiation, comprising:
- a low density aerogel base;
- and
- a high density ceramic skin overlaying said aerogel base, where said aerogel base provides structural support for said ceramic skin and said ceramic skin protects said aerogel base from erosion.
A dual mode radar transparency allowing passage of both RF radiation and IR radiation, comprising:
- a porous aerogel base consisting of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, said porous aerogel base being 10-20% dense by weight and having a major portion of pores with a diameter of 20-100 angstroms;
- and
- a skin consisting of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, said skin having a thickness of less than 0.3 millimeters;
- wherein said skin overlays said aerogel base.
A dual mode radar transparency allowing passage of both RF radiation and IR radiation, comprising:
- a porous aerogel base consisting of Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 stabilized ZrO.sub.2, said porous aerogel base being 10-20% dense by weight and having a major portion of pores with a diameter of 20-100 angstroms;
- and
- a skin consisting of Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 stabilized ZrO.sub.2, said skin having a thickness of less than 0.3 millimeters;
- wherein said skin overlays said aerogel base.
A method of fabricating a dual mode radar transparency allowing passage of both RF radiation and IR radiation, comprising the steps of:
- preparing a colloidal dispersion of a first selected ceramic material in a medium;
- increasing a concentration of said colloidal dispersion by evaporation of said medium to create a suspension;
- placing said suspension in a mold;
- solidifying said suspension to form an aerogel;
- providing a ceramic skin;
- and
- joining said aerogel to said ceramic skin.
A method of fabricating a dual mode radar transparency allowing passage of both RF radiation and IR radiation, comprising the steps of:
- forming a ceramic skin of a ceramic oxide selected from the group of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 stabilized ZrO.sub.2, said ceramic skin being hollow and having a shape selected from the group of Cone Ogive, Tangent Ogive, yon Karman Ogive, and hemispherical shapes;
- sintering said ceramic skin;
- preparing a colloidal dispersion of a ceramic oxide selected from any one of the group of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 a stabilized ZrO.sub.2, and Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 in a medium;
- increasing a concentration of said colloidal dispersion by evaporation of said medium to create a suspension;
- placing said suspension in said ceramic skin;
- and
- solidifying said suspension to form an aerogel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.