NONSACRIFICIAL LASER HARDENING

Abstract

A nonsacrifical laser hardened structure and method protects against incident high energy irradiation. A very thin outer face sheet with a reflective outer surface is laminated to a foam core which is further laminated to a support structure. The foam core includes liquid and vapor passages. A supply of liquid working fluid impregnates the foam core. A portion of incident irradiation energy is first reflected from the outer face sheet and substantially all the remaining irradiation energy conducted through the face sheet to be absorbed at the back of the face sheet into heat of vaporization of the liquid working fluid. Additional liquid working fluid is supplied to the back of the face sheet by capillary action through the foam core, and additional liquid working fluid is resupplied to the foam core through the liquid passages. Working fluid vapor is removed through the foam vapor passages. Another embodiment of the invention includes a highly reflective coating as the reflective outer surface of the outer face sheet. The preferred embodiment uses sintered aluminum as the foam core. The liquid working fluid may be supplied under pressure from a central storage area.

Source: Google Patents

35 USC §181 Secrecy Order

Inventor

• 1DONALD B. PAUL

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