Multi-hit capable transparent, multi-stack armor system

Abstract

A transparent armor laminate system includes a plurality of sub-stacks separated by an interlayer. The sub-stacks include a plurality of layers including a glass ceramic front strike-face layer, a backing layer comprising a spall-resistant material, and at least one glass layer laminated between the strike-face and backing layers. The interlayer isolates cracks between sub-stacks, and may include an isolating material such as a polymer, gas, or liquid. The laminate system offers improved performance with reduced weight over conventional all-glass or all-glass-ceramic transparent armors.

1 . A transparent armor laminate system comprising a plurality of sub-stacks separated by an interlayer;
 the front or first sub-stack comprising   a plurality of layers including a glass-ceramic strike-face layer,   a backing layer of a spall-resistant material, and   at least one intermediate layer comprising glass and laminated between the strike-face layer and the backing layer;   the remaining sub-stack(s) comprising   a plurality of layers including a strike-face comprising at least one selected selected from the group consisting of a glass-ceramic layer and a glass layer,   a backing layer of a spall-resistant material, and   at least one intermediate layer comprising glass and laminated between the strike-face layer and the backing layer; and   an interlayer between at least the front or first stack and the adjacent sub-stack comprising an isolating material selected from a group consisting of gas, a fluid, a polymeric material, a gel, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The transparent armor laminate system according to  claim 1 , wherein in each stack the glass-ceramic/glass, glass and spall layers are bonded together using an adhesive. 
     
     
         3 . The transparent armor laminate system of  claim 1 , wherein the glass-ceramic comprises 20-98 Vol. % crystalline component and 2-80 Vol. % glass component. 
     
     
         4 . The transparent armor laminate system of  claim 1 , wherein the glass-ceramic comprises 50-98 Vol. % crystalline component and 2-50 Vol. % glass component. 
     
     
         5 . The transparent armor laminate system of  claim 2 , wherein the crystalline component is selected from a group consisting of beta-quartz, a spinel, mullite, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The transparent armor laminate system of  claim 1 , wherein the glass is selected from a group consisting of soda-lime glass, silica glass, borosilicate glass, aluminoborosilicate glass, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The transparent armor laminate system of  claim 1 , wherein the spall-resistant material comprises a polymer. 
     
     
         8 . A transparent armor laminate system comprising a plurality of n sub-stacks separated by an interlayer, where n is an integer having a value greater than one;
 the front or first sub-stack comprising a plurality of layers including a glass-ceramic strike-face layer, a backing layer comprising a spall-resistant material, and at least one intermediate layer comprising glass and laminated between the strike-face layer and the backing layer;   the remaining n−1 sub-stacks comprising a plurality of layers including a strike-face including a glass-ceramic or glass layer, a backing layer comprising a spall-resistant material, and at least one intermediate glass layer between the strike-face layer and the backing layer; and   the interlayer comprising an isolating material selected from a group consisting of gas, a fluid, a polymeric material, a gel, and combinations thereof between at least the front stack and the stack adjacent to it.   
     
     
         9 . The transparent armor laminate system of  claim 8 , wherein n is greater than 2. 
     
     
         10 . The transparent armor laminate system of  claim 8 , wherein the glass-ceramic comprises 20-98 Vol. % crystalline component and 2-80 Vol. % glass component. 
     
     
         11 . The transparent armor laminate system of  claim 8 , wherein the glass-ceramic comprises 50-98 Vol. % crystalline component and 2-50 Vol. % glass component. 
     
     
         12 . The transparent armor laminate system of  claim 10 , wherein the crystalline component is selected from a group consisting of beta-quartz, a spinel, mullite, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The transparent armor laminate system of  claim 8 , wherein the sub-stacks have a thickness from 15-45 mm. 
     
     
         14 . The transparent armor laminate system of  claim 8 , wherein the interlayer has a thickness from 0.050 inch (about 0.127 centimeter) to 0.500 inch (about 1.27 centimeters). 
     
     
         15 . The transparent armor laminate system of  claim 8 , wherein the isolating material consists essentially of a gas. 
     
     
         16 . The transparent armor laminate system of  claim 8 , wherein the isolating material is selected from a group consisting of polycarbonate, polyurethane, silicone, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The transparent armor laminate according to  claim 8 , wherein in each stack the glass-ceramic/glass, glass and spall layers are bonded together using an adhesive.