Optically transparent composite material and process for preparing same

A polymer prepreg comprising

• a transparent polymer matrix having at least one planar surface and
• at least one glass ribbon bonded to the polymer matrix, the at least one glass ribbon having a width and a length which define a first planar surface,
• wherein the first planar surface of the at least one ribbon is substantially parallel to the at least one planar surface of the polymer matrix,
• wherein the polymer matrix and the at least one glass ribbon have refractive indices that are substantially the same.

A glass-reinforced polymer composite prepared by

• contacting a transparent polymer core having at least two sides with at least one prepreg to form a layered structure,
• heating the layered structure to at least the higher of the glass transition temperature of the prepreg polymer matrix or the glass transition temperature of the transparent polymer core, and
• applying sufficient pressure to cause the layered structure to laminate, forming a glass-reinforced transparent polymer composite,
• wherein the prepreg comprises a transparent polymer matrix having at least one planar surface and at least one glass ribbon bonded thereto, the at least one glass ribbon having a width and a length which define a first planar surface, wherein the first planar surface of the at least one ribbon is substantially parallel to the at least one planar surface of the polymer matrix, wherein the polymer matrix and the at least one glass ribbon have refractive indices that are substantially the same.

A glass-reinforced transparent polymer composite prepared by

• layering at least two prepregs upon one another,
• heating the layered prepregs to at least the glass transition temperature of the polymer matrix, and
• applying sufficient pressure to cause the layered prepregs to laminate, forming a glass-reinforced transparent polymer composite,
• wherein each prepreg comprises a transparent polymer matrix having at least one planar surface and at least one glass ribbon bonded thereto, the at least one glass ribbon having a width and length which define a first planar surface, wherein the first planar surface of the at least one ribbon is substantially parallel to the at least one planar surface of the polymer matrix.

A polymer composite comprising

• a transparent polymer matrix having at least one planar surface and
• at least one glass ribbon having a width and a length which define a first planar surface embedded within the matrix,
• wherein the first planar surface of the at least one ribbon is substantially parallel to the at least one planar surface of the polymer matrix,
• wherein the optical transmission of the polymer composite varies by no more than about 15% over a composite temperature range of from 25.degree. C. to 65.degree. C. when the polymer composite is oriented at a 45.degree. angle to a beam of laser light generated by an optical transmission detector having an acceptance angle of 0.15.

A glass-reinforced polymer composite prepared by

• contacting a transparent polymer core having at least two sides with at least one prepreg to form a layered structure,
• heating the layered structure to at least the higher of the glass transition temperature of the prepreg polymer matrix or the glass transition temperature of the transparent polymer core, and
• applying sufficient pressure to cause the layered structure to laminate, forming a glass-reinforced transparent polymer composite,
• wherein the prepreg comprises a transparent polymer matrix having at least one planar surface and at least one glass ribbon bonded thereto, the at least one glass ribbon having a width and a length which define a first planar surface, wherein the first planar surface of the at least one ribbon is substantially parallel to the at least one planar surface of the polymer matrix,
• wherein the optical transmission of the polymer composite varies by no more than about 15% over a composite temperature range of from 25.degree. C. to 65.degree. C. when the polymer composite is oriented at a 45.degree. angle to abeam of laser light generated by an optical transmission detector having an acceptance angle of 0.15.