Optically transmissive armor composite

Abstract

An exemplary apparatus providing a substantially optically transparent/translucent composite armor material is disclosed as having: a first layer of hard transparent material (i.e., a glass facing layer) adapted for attachment to a second layer of polymer backing (i.e., a kinetic layer) and a layer of elastomeric bonding material disposed between the first and second layers. Disclosed features and specifications may be variously controlled, adapted or otherwise optionally modified to improve and/or modify the performance characteristics of the transparent/translucent armor composite. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention generally provide lightweight transparent/translucent armor for use as, for example, bulletproof windows in vehicles and buildings.

1 . A substantially optically transmissive armor composite, said composite comprising:
 a facing layer having a first thickness, said facing layer comprising an at least partially at least one of transparent and translucent glass material;   a kinetic layer having a second thickness, said kinetic layer comprising an at least partially at least one of transparent and translucent polymeric material suitably configured for attachment to said first layer; and   an optional layer of an elastomeric material, said optional layer at least partially disposed between said first layer and said second layer; and   wherein the ratio of said second thickness to said first thickness is at least about unity.   
   
   
       2 . The armor composite of  claim 1 , wherein said ratio of the kinetic layer thickness to the facing layer thickness is about 1.625. 
   
   
       3 . The armor composite of  claim 1 , wherein said facing layer is suitably configured to at least one of: substantially blunt a projectile striking the facing layer's surface; at least partially remove a coaxial portion of a projectile striking the facing layer's surface; at least partially diminish the structural integrity of a coaxial portion of a projectile striking the facing layer's surface; and at least partially deform the shape of a projectile striking the facing layer's surface. 
   
   
       4 . The armor composite of  claim 1 , where said kinetic layer is suitably configured to at least partially reduce the kinetic energy of a projectile penetrating at least partially into said kinetic layer. 
   
   
       5 . The armor composite of  claim 1 , wherein said facing layer is substantially articulated. 
   
   
       6 . The armor composite of  claim 5 , wherein said facing layer comprises a plurality of at least one of discrete tiles, spheres, marbles, polyhedra, cylinders and regular solids. 
   
   
       7 . The armor composite of  claim 1 , wherein the indices of refraction of the facing layer and the kinetic layer are substantially equivalent for a pre-determined temperature range. 
   
   
       8 . The armor composite of  claim 1 , wherein said facing layer comprises a plurality of hard facing sub-layers. 
   
   
       9 . The armor composite of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of said facing sub-layers is substantially articulated with a plurality of at least one of discrete tiles, spheres, marbles, polyhedra, cylinders and regular solids. 
   
   
       10 . The armor composite of  claim 9 , wherein the articulation boundaries of at least two articulated facing sub-layers are configured in at least one of a substantially staggered geometry and a substantially offset geometry. 
   
   
       11 . The armor composite of  claim 1 , wherein said facing layer comprises at least one of an amorphous glass material and a crystalline glass material. 
   
   
       12 . The armor composite of  claim 1 , wherein said kinetic layer comprises a plurality of kinetic sub-layers. 
   
   
       13 . The armor composite of  claim 12 , wherein the kinetic layers comprise layers of at least one of polycarbonate, acrylic and urethane interspersed with layers of elastomeric polymer. 
   
   
       14 . A method for protecting an object from projectile damage behind an at least partially optically transmissive barrier, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a facing layer having a first thickness, said facing layer comprising an at least partially at least one of transparent and translucent glass material;   providing a kinetic layer having a second thickness, said kinetic layer comprising an at least partially at least one of transparent and translucent polymeric material suitably configured for attachment to said first layer; and   providing an optional layer of an elastomeric material, said optional layer at least partially disposed between said first layer and said second layer; and   wherein the ratio of said second thickness to said first thickness is at least about unity.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said ratio of the kinetic layer thickness to the facing layer thickness is about 1.625. 
   
   
       16 . A substantially optically transmissive armor composite, said composite comprising:
 a facing layer having a first thickness, said facing layer comprising an at least partially at least one of transparent and translucent glass material;   a kinetic layer having a second thickness, said kinetic layer comprising an at least partially at least one of transparent and translucent polymer material suitably configured for attachment to said first layer; and   an elastomeric layer comprising at least one polymer material, said elastomeric layer disposed between said first layer and said second layer; and   wherein the ratio of said second thickness to said first thickness is at least about unity.   
   
   
       17 . The armor composite of  claim 16 , wherein said facing layer comprises at least one of: two sheets of glass dimensioned with approximate thicknesses of 3/32″ and ⅛″ respectively; two sheets of glass dimensioned with approximate thicknesses of 3/32″; and two sheets of glass dimensioned with approximate thickness of ⅛″. 
   
   
       18 . The armor composite of  claim 16 , wherein said facing layer comprises at least one sheet of glass dimensioned with an approximate thickness of ⅛″ bonded to a polymer layer, wherein said polymer layer is suitably dimensioned to contain spall generated when a projectile strikes the surface of said facing layer. 
   
   
       19 . The armor composite of  claim 16 , wherein said kinetic layer comprises a plurality of semi-rigid polymer layers interspersed with layers of elastomeric polymer. 
   
   
       20 . The armor composite of  claim 16 , wherein said kinetic layer comprises a plurality of semi-rigid polymer layers having an approximate thickness of about ¼″ interspersed with layers of elastomeric polymer having an approximate thickness of up to about 0.05″.