Abstract: A transparent composite armor is made of tens to hundreds or even thousands of thin layers of material each with a thickness of 10-500 ?m. An appropriate amount of impedance mismatch between the layers causes some reflection at each interface but limit the amplitude of the resulting tensile wave below the tensile strength of the constituent materials. The result is an improvement in ballistic performance and that will result is a significant impact in reducing size, weight, and volume of the armor.

Abstract: A transparent composite armor is made of tens to hundreds or even thousands of thin layers of material each with a thickness of 10-500 ?m. An appropriate amount of impedance mismatch between the layers causes some reflection at each interface but limit the amplitude of the resulting tensile wave below the tensile strength of the constituent materials. The result is an improvement in ballistic performance and that will result is a significant impact in reducing size, weight, and volume of the armor.

Abstract: Sampling of a broad range of chemicals using a handheld sampler body, having a sample screen in a sampling cassette; where a sample screen housing further consists of a locking arm arrestor body, where, the locking arm arrestor body including a draw tube, and where the sampling screen can be positioned in either a retracted or extended positioned regarding a sample access face. When activated, the system executes collecting and sampling operations of chemicals, by exposing the extended sampling screen to a sampling environment, drawing through the draw tube, air from the sampling environment, further collecting, onto the surface of the sample screen solid particles and/or pressing the sample screen against the surface(s) of object in the sampling environment. Then, removing the sampling screen from the sampling environment and isolating the plurality of airborne chemical contaminants, by retracting a sample screen into the sample screen housing.

Abstract: A composite made of alternating layers of elastic and plastic material provides desirable mechanical properties including high toughness. Each layer has a thickness of between 10 nanometers and 500 microns. Plastic materials that may be used include thermoplastic/thermoset elastomers, aluminum, alloys of aluminum, titanium, and alloys of titanium. Elastic materials include various thermoplastic or thermoset polymers, Al2O3, SiC, TiB2 and B4C.

Abstract: Sampling of a broad range of chemicals using a handheld sampler body, having a sample screen in a sampling cassette; where a sample screen housing further consists of a locking arm arrestor body, where, the locking arm arrestor body including a draw tube, and where the sampling screen can be positioned in either a retracted or extended positioned regarding a sample access face. When activated, the system executes collecting and sampling operations of chemicals, by exposing the extended sampling screen to a sampling environment, drawing through the draw tube, air from the sampling environment, further collecting, onto the surface of the sample screen solid particles and/or pressing the sample screen against the surface(s) of object in the sampling environment. Then, removing the sampling screen from the sampling environment and isolating the plurality of airborne chemical contaminants, by retracting a sample screen into the sample screen housing.

Abstract: A spinel ceramic made from the process comprising the steps of polishing one edge of a first spinel part to a surface roughness of less than 1 nm, polishing one edge of a second spinel part to a surface roughness of less than 1 nm, joining the polished edge of the first spinel part to the polished edge of the second spinel part, heating the first and second spinel parts to about 1000-1200° C., and maintaining said heating for about 3-6 hours resulting in bonded spinel parts.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for making transparent ceramic spinel windows, domes and other complex shapes via edge bonding.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a substantially void-free preform for a microstructured optical fiber using a one-step process is provided. A preform is prepared from specialty glasses using a direct extrusion method. A die for use with the direct extrusion method is also provided, and a method for drawing the preform into a HC-PBG fiber for use in transmitting infra-red wavelength light is also provided. The preform comprises an outer jacket made of solid glass, a cladding having a plurality of air holes arranged in a desired pattern within the jacket, and a core which is hollow.

Abstract: A method for making a smooth ceramic including loading ceramic powder to be densified into a hot press die, placing one or more spacers with a polished surface between a hot press punch and the ceramic powder, placing the die and punch into a hot press and hot pressing the ceramic powder, and removing a smooth ceramic shape that requires no subsequent polishing or processing and has a surface roughness of 5 nm RMS or better. The smooth ceramic shape may be transparent, and it may be spinel, magnesia, yttria, lutetia, scandia, YAG, any composites thereof, or any of their rare earth doped compounds. Also disclosed is the related smooth ceramic made by this process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a substantially void-free preform for a microstructured optical fiber using a one-step process is provided. A preform is prepared from specialty glasses using a direct extrusion method. A die for use with the direct extrusion method is also provided, and a method for drawing the preform into a HC-PBG fiber for use in transmitting infra-red wavelength light is also provided. The preform comprises an outer jacket made of solid glass, a cladding having a plurality of air holes arranged in a desired pattern within the jacket, and a core which is hollow.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for making transparent ceramic spinel windows, domes and other complex shapes via edge bonding.