PARTICULATE EROSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC WINDOW MATERIALS

The general erosion behavior of materials used for radomes and ir-domes exposed to both rain and solid particle environments is described. Differences in the loading conditions, nature of the fractures produced, and modes of material removal due to impacting water drops and solid particles are explained. It is concluded that there is a general need for data pertaining to transmittance degradation in sensor window materials as a function of the exposure time in a well-characterized erosive environment. The experimental data can be used with a model of the operational environment in conjunction with a proposed model to determine the amount and nature of the particulate matter impacting the sensor window to establish the potential limitations on its operation.