Reinforced Transparencies for Aerospace Application: Case Description

ABSTRACT: This paper describes the polycarbonate acrylic laminated development that can be applied in aeronautics and aerospace transparencies. The case studied is a laminated double-curved transparency (bubble form) used in an observation side window of a military aircraft. Side windows need strength and specific characteristics, similar to windshields, allowing the perfect visualization and image capture. Laminated transparencies composed by different materials have better qualities than the monolithic ones. This kind of transparency can offer high mechanical and chemical resistance, high transparency, no fragmentation and easy maintenance or recovery. A significant amount of information about materials and processes was jointed in order to build the reinforced transparency and validate this study. The final results were analyzed based on two points of view: mechanic resistance and, especially, optical quality.