Surface Relief Nanostructure Treatments for Armament Applications

InnoSense LLC (ISL) proposes to develop Super-Hydrophobic Coatings with Anti-Reflection properties (SHOC-AR).SHOC-AR involves formation of a nanostructured, surface relief patterned superhydrophobic, and biomimetic coating on metal and glass surfaces. Femtosecond laser pulses will be used to create surface relief structures on firearm material surfaces, such as steel. The in-situ textures of firearm surfaces with different surface relief patterns will be utilized as the microscale feature of this coating. Moth-eye anti-reflection surface relief structures can be fabricated directly onto glass substrates, such as on the curved side of plano-convex lenses. In Phase I, ISL will develop SHOC-AR technology and demonstrate feasibility by applying it on G43400 (4340) steel and plano-convex lens material coupons. Surfaces of steel plates and tubes (inside and outside) to be used would represent a gun bore. In Phase II, we will downselect candidate processes, then optimize, scale-up, and tailor the material to specific U.S. Army programs. We will also investigate superhydrophobic coatings for glass, steel and other engineering alloys applications. During Phase III transition, ISL will work with prime contractor and U.S. Army groups representing our entry market to establish testing requirements for coating certification.