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Sintering of an Ultrapure α‐Alumina Powder: II. Mechanical, Thermo‐Mechanical, Optical Properties, and Missile Dome Design
Author(s) -
BernardGranger Guillaume,
Guizard Christian,
Monchalin Nathalie
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
international journal of applied ceramic technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.4
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1744-7402
pISSN - 1546-542X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7402.2009.02457.x
Subject(s) - materials science , crystallite , transmittance , composite material , missile , sintering , optics , metallurgy , optoelectronics , physics , aerospace engineering , engineering
The mechanical, thermo‐mechanical, and optical properties of a fully dense submicrometer polycrystalline α‐alumina material have been investigated. They have been compared with the ones measured/reported for polycrystalline magnesium fluoride and monocrystalline sapphire. By optimizing the geometry (included semi‐angle, spherical radius, and base diameter), it is possible to design polycrystalline α‐alumina hemispherical missile domes, having a thickness in the range 1–3 mm, that will survive mechanical and thermo‐mechanical stresses during launch and flight toward the target. This kind of domes will exhibit excellent optical properties (in‐line transmittance) for impacting electromagnetic radiations belonging to the mid‐infrared and visible ranges.