Under a Phase I SBIR contract (FA8650-05-M-5216) from Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Materials and Manufacturing Directorate (ML), UES has demonstrated the feasibility of developing engineered materials for a replicated hybrid/composite mirror. This composite mirror can operate in the visible optics range at ambient air or in space. This composite mirror is light-weight and has an areal density <7 kg/m2.  This replicated mirror system is based on the nano-laminates of SiC and Si3N4.  The underlying concept of using SiC and Si3N4 is to construct the mirror, attachment bonding material, and SiC substructure in such a way that they all possess very close thermal expansion coefficients.  In this SBIR program, the replicated SiC/Si3N4 nano-laminate mirror surfaces are being characterized optically to meet the requirements of the surface figure error and surface roughness (63 nm RMS and 2 nm RMS, respectively).

UES has submitted a Phase II proposal to further develop this technology and fabricate a 10 cm flat replicated mirror with required optical quality that will be delivered to the Air Force. UES is working with Lockheed Martin as commercialization partner.

Please contact Dr. Tai Il Mah (937-255-9829) for additional information.