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Development of Optical Host Materials with High Laser Damage Thresholds

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Air Force
Contract: F33615-02-C-5418
Agency Tracking Number: 011ML-0353
Amount: $749,635.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 2002
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
20 New England Business Center
Andover, MA 01810
United States
DUNS: 073800062
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Dennis Pacheco
 Principal Research Scient
 (978) 689-0003
 pacheco@psicorp.com
Business Contact
 Michael Finson
Title: Executive VP, CTO
Phone: (978) 689-0003
Email: finson@psicorp.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

In Phase I, we synthesized a number of acrylic-based materials covering a wide range of chemical structures and material properties. These candidates were damage-tested in order to demonstrate laser-hardened formulations and understand the relationshipbetween polymer structure and laser damage threshold (LDT). During this effort, we successfully demonstrated a 3.5-fold increase in LDT over the initial PMMA material fabricated. Furthermore, we have identified a clear path to achieve significantadditional improvements in LDT. The Phase II work will continue the development of the candidates identified in Phase I, and extend the investigation to include two promising new candidates that are natural extensions of the present materials. Thesematerials will be optimized for both damage resistance and dye compatibility. Detailed structure-property relationships will be established in order to provide a detailed understanding of the observed improvements in LDT, and as a guide for producingstill better materials. Successful progress of the program will be validated through the testing of selected samples at AFRL/MLPJ. The development of a dye-compatible, laser-hardened host matrix is an enabling technology for practical agile-wavelengthoptical-limiter devices.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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