Transparent composite panel

Abstract

A transparent nanofiber composite panel that includes a plurality of transparent nanofibers integrated in random orientations within a transparent matrix is provided. The transparent nanofibers have a diameter that is less than the wavelength of visible light. The extremely small diameter of the transparent nanofibers allows the transparent panel to be substantially insensitive to an RI ‘mismatch’ between the transparent nanofibers and the transparent matrix. Additionally, due to random orientation of the transparent nanofibers within the transparent matrix the transparent nanofiber composite panel possesses substantially isotropic material properties such that the transparent nanofiber composite panel can be incorporated as a structural, load bearing, component of a larger structure.

1 . A transparent panel comprising: 
 a transparent matrix; and    a plurality of transparent nanofibers integrated within the transparent matrix, the transparent nanofibers having a diameter less than the wavelength of visible light.    
     
     
         2 . The transparent panel of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent nanofibers have a diameter between approximately 10 nm and 400 nm.  
     
     
         3 . The transparent panel of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent nanofibers comprise glass transparent nanofibers.  
     
     
         4 . The transparent panel of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent nanofibers comprise approximately 10% to 60% of the transparent panel by volume.  
     
     
         5 . The transparent panel of  claim 1 , wherein an index of refraction of the transparent nanofibers approximately equals an index of refraction (RI) of the transparent matrix.  
     
     
         6 . The transparent panel of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent nanofibers are integrated within the transparent matrix to form a non-woven transparent nanofiber mat tape used to construct the transparent panel.  
     
     
         7 . The transparent panel of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent nanofibers form a mat cloth that is integrated within the transparent matrix to form the transparent panel.  
     
     
         8 . The transparent panel of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent nanofibers and the transparent matrix are injected into a mold to form the transparent panel.  
     
     
         9 . The transparent panel of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent matrix comprises an epoxy resin.  
     
     
         10 . The transparent panel of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent nanofibers comprise a polymer.  
     
     
         11 . The transparent panel of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent nanofibers are integrated within the transparent matrix in a random orientation to provide a structural load bearing transparent panel comprising substantially isotropic strength such that a load can be transferred across the transparent panel in any direction.  
     
     
         12 . The transparent panel of  claim 11 , wherein the structural load bearing transparent panel is adapted to be incorporated as a transparent structural, load bearing member within a fuselage of a mobile platform.  
     
     
         13 . The transparent panel of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent panel comprises an optical quality transparent panel adapted to permit approximately 90% transmittance of light.  
     
     
         14 . The transparent panel of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent panel is adapted to maintain an approximately constant level of transparency at temperatures ranging between approximately (−60)° F. and approximately 400° F.  
     
     
         15 . The transparent panel of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent panel is adapted to be substantially insensitive to an RI ‘mismatch’ between the transparent nanofibers and the transparent matrix  
     
     
         16 . A method for providing a structural load bearing transparent panel having substantially isotropic material properties over a wide range of temperatures, the method comprising: 
 providing a transparent matrix;    providing a plurality of transparent nanofibers having a diameter less than the wavelength of visible light;    integrating the transparent nanofibers within a transparent matrix to form the transparent panel comprising substantially isotropic strength such that a load can be transferred across the transparent panel in any direction and adapted to be substantially insensitive to a difference between a refractive index (RI) of the transparent matrix and a RI of the transparent nanofibers.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein integrating the transparent nanofibers within a transparent matrix comprises integrating the transparent nanofibers within a transparent matrix in a random orientation such that the transparent panel comprises substantially isotropic material properties.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein providing the plurality of transparent nanofibers comprises providing the transparent nanofibers having a diameter between approximately 10 nm and 400 nm.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein providing the plurality of transparent nanofibers comprises providing glass nanofibers.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein integrating the transparent nanofibers within a transparent matrix comprises integrating the transparent nanofibers such that the transparent nanofibers comprise approximately 10% to 60% of the transparent panel by volume.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein providing the plurality of transparent nanofibers comprises providing the nanofibers having a RI approximately equal to RI of the transparent matrix.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein integrating the transparent nanofibers within a transparent matrix comprises: 
 integrating the transparent nanofibers within the transparent matrix to form a non-woven transparent nanofiber mat tape; and    bonding together a plurality of pieces of the transparent nanofiber mat tape to construct the transparent panel.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein integrating the transparent nanofibers within a transparent matrix comprises: 
 forming a mat cloth from the transparent nanofibers; and    integrating within the transparent matrix with the mat cloth to form the transparent panel.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein integrating the transparent nanofibers within a transparent matrix comprises injecting the transparent nanofibers and the transparent matrix into a mold to form the transparent panel.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein providing the transparent matrix comprises providing an epoxy resin to be integrated with the transparent nanofibers.  
     
     
         26 . The transparent panel of  claim 16 , wherein providing the transparent nanofibers comprises providing a polymer to be integrated with the transparent matrix.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises incorporating the transparent panel within a fuselage of a mobile platform as a transparent structural, load bearing member.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein integrating the transparent nanofibers within a transparent matrix comprises integrating the transparent nanofibers within the transparent matrix such that the transparent panel permits approximately 90% transmittance of light.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein integrating the transparent nanofibers within a transparent matrix comprises integrating the transparent nanofibers within the transparent matrix such that such that the transparent panel is maintains an approximately constant level of transparency at temperatures ranging between approximately (−60)° F. and approximately 400° F.  
     
     
         30 . A nanofiber composite panel for use in the structure of a mobile platform, said panel comprising: 
 a transparent epoxy resin; and    a plurality of transparent nanofibers integrated within the transparent epoxy resin in a random orientation to provide a transparent panel having substantially isotropic strength such that a load can be transferred across the transparent panel in any direction; wherein the transparent nanofibers comprise:    a diameter having a length less than the wavelength of visible light such that the transparent panel is substantially insensitive to a difference between a refractive index (RI) of the transparent epoxy resin and a RI of the transparent nanofibers.    
     
     
         31 . The panel of  claim 30 , wherein the length of the diameter of the transparent nanofibers is between approximately 10 nm and 400 nm.  
     
     
         32 . The panel of  claim 30 , wherein the transparent nanofibers comprise glass nanofibers.  
     
     
         33 . The panel of  claim 30 , wherein the transparent nanofibers comprise polymer nanofibers.  
     
     
         34 . The panel of  claim 30 , wherein the transparent nanofibers comprise approximately 10% to 60% of the transparent panel by volume.  
     
     
         35 . The panel of  claim 30 , wherein an index of refraction of the transparent nanofibers approximately equals an index of refraction (RI) of the transparent epoxy resin.  
     
     
         36 . The panel of  claim 30 , wherein the transparent nanofibers are integrated within the transparent epoxy resin to form a non-woven transparent nanofiber mat tape used to construct the transparent panel.  
     
     
         37 . The panel of  claim 30 , wherein the transparent nanofibers form a mat cloth that is integrated within the transparent epoxy resin to form the transparent panel.  
     
     
         38 . The panel of  claim 30 , wherein the transparent nanofibers and the transparent epoxy resin are injected into a mold to form the transparent panel.  
     
     
         39 . The panel of  claim 11 , wherein the transparent panel is adapted to be incorporated as a transparent structural, load bearing member within a fuselage of a mobile platform.  
     
     
         40 . The panel of  claim 30 , wherein the transparent panel comprises an optical quality transparent panel adapted to permit approximately 90% transmittance of light.