CDE themed comp -syn-bio part 2

Synthetic Biology Functional transparent materials for sensor protection

OFFICIAL © Crown copyright 2016 Dstl

09 December 2016

Uses of transparent ballistic materials

Examples of candidate transparent materials

The problem space

• glint/glare

• laser dazzle

How can synthetic biology help?


09 December 2016

Optical performance of transparent armour


09 December 2016

SNATCH 3.6 Tonnes

Challenger 2 ~65 Tonnes

SALOON 1-3 Tonnes

TELEPHONE CMOS SENSOR ~170 grams

AJAX 38 Tonnes

MISSILE SEEKER HEAD ~ 90 kg

Many uses

Candidate transparent materials


09 December 2016


09 December 2016

• for example glass fibre matt in polyacrylate resin

+ cheap

+ good ballistic performance

- refractive index/dispersion match

- thickness vs transparency

- cure/polymerisation anisotropy Image of PDLC liquid lens

© Appl. Phys. Lett. 94, 164109 (2009)

Image © cladco.co.uk

Composites


09 December 2016

+ high performance transparent armour

+ high transparency

− scattering centres

− weight

− expensive Image sourced from Wikipedia Image © ceramtec.com

Ceramics

For example sapphire (Al2O3), magnesium aluminate spinel,

aluminium oxy nitride


09 December 2016

Image © Malvern Optical Ltd. Image © pixoto.com.

• glint/glare

• signature high spot

• significant detection cue

• multiple wavebands

• negative and positive contrast

Image © QinetiQ. Image © SPIE.

The problem space


09 December 2016

+ layered stepped index coating

+ cheap

− narrow bandwidth/angle of operation

− large area control of thickness/index

− large scale cost

Image sourced from Wikipedia

Image © Malvern Optical Ltd.

Anti-reflection coatings


09 December 2016

+ better frequency response

+ improved operation angle

− feature size/registration

− structural integrity

− thickness limitation

Deubel, M et al. Nature Mat, 3, 444, (2004)

© Integrated Publishing Inc..

Graded refractive index


09 December 2016

+ biomimetic

+ large bandwidth/angle of operation

− feature size

− complexity

− cost

© El_Seed Corp.

© Wired.com.

Moth-eye structures


09 December 2016

© Crown copyright

• increasing problem

• multiple wavebands

• threat to equipment and personnel © SPIE

© Iridian-optical-filters.com

The problem space – laser dazzle


09 December 2016

Electro-optic protection measures

metal / carbon nanoparticles copper phthalocyanine

colour change photonic crystal image © Bristol University reverse photochromic pigments image © Huddersfield University

• non-linear scattering

• photonic crystals • self-adaptive pigments

• reverse saturable absorption

How can synthetic biology help?

Optical performance of transparent armour

• cheaper/more environmentally friendly routes to existing materials –

cost, weight, strength

• novel functional transparent materials

self assembly

self-healing

reactive – for example to specific wavelengths

multi-functionality

• signature management

reduced visible/thermal signatures from novel transmissive (and reflective)

solutions


09 December 2016

Transparent materials challenges Adhesives and interlayer materials

All images ©2013 Transparent Armor Solutions

12/9/2016

Crown copyright 2016 Dstl OFFICIAL

Why bond with adhesives?

• enables production of laminated products that are strong and

lightweight

• advantages of ply lamination include safety and security

12/9/2016


Why use an interlayer?

Provides three beneficial properties to laminated glass and other

panes:

• distribute impact forces across a greater area

• binds the resulting shards if the pane is ultimately broken

• viscoelastic interlayer undergoes plastic deformation - absorbing

energy and reducing penetration by the impacting object

12/9/2016


Military uses

Transparent armour and bullet resistant systems

Bullet resistant glass

© Eco-Jetcut. All rights reserved.

12/9/2016


Problem

• degradation of transparency - including

water ingress and delamination

• failure of the glazing framework

Edge delamination in vehicle windscreen

Diagram of edge delamination in window frame Images source: https://www.cpni.gov.uk/.../2013037-delamination_laminated_glass.pdf

12/9/2016


Why does this matter?

• degrades equipment performance and availability

• degradation of transparency affects visibility

• useful service life that is controlled by the surface degradation (for

example scratches) and removal of the transparency for optical

reasons

12/9/2016


Why does this matter?

• material defects such as edge delamination will reduce bonding

and reduce the blast-resistance of the laminated glass

• equally applies to all constructs/systems

• cost of replacements and installation

12/9/2016


Common delamination problems

Excessive moisture

• polyvinyl butyral (PVB) is hygroscopic and absorbs moisture

• PVB will yellow and hence reduce optical clarity

• delamination occurs

Compatibility

• incorrect materials/ products used in sealing the framework

12/9/2016


Common delamination problems

Mismatching of glass/poor processing

• stresses applied to the interlayer, particularly at the edges

Quality of installation

• exposure to surface cleaners and primers can cause the adhesive layer to

deteriorate

12/9/2016


Requirements for transparent interlayer materials

• adequate optical transparency

• compatible with transparent materials

• adhesion to many surfaces

• strong bonding, toughness

• adequate flexibility

• stop cracks propagating

• the system must also perform adequately

12/9/2016


Current transparent interlayer materials

Interlayer materials

• tough and ductile, so brittle cracks will

not pass from one side of the laminate

to the other

• film/gap thicknesses typically 0.381 to

1.27 mm

PVB

• (C8H14O2)n

• poly[(2-propyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-

diyl)methylene]

TPU

• thermoplastic elastomers consisting of

linear segmented block copolymers

composed of hard and soft segments

12/9/2016


What are we looking for?

Desired solution utilising synthetic biology

• novel adhesives and interlayer materials which prevent water

ingress and/or absorbs moisture without causing delamination and

degradation of optical transparency

12/9/2016


You need to consider

• the system and operating environment

• surfaces and adhesion

• reducing the cost of inserting new materials on products

- modelling, characterisation, testing

• scale-up

• durability and longevity, particularly in harsh environments

12/9/2016


You need to consider

• fabrication process

• repair process

• is it future-proofed?

• is it non-hazardous?

12/9/2016


Synthetic biology for transparent materials

CDE themed competition

12/9/2016

OFFICIAL Crown copyright 2016 Dstl

What we want - materials

• new materials are potentially transformational

• must involve synthetic biology at some stage in their production

• likely require multidisciplinary teams and approaches

• production of sufficient material to

demonstrate desired property

• relevant wavelength transmission required

• military application must be identified

12/9/2016


What we want - adhesives and interlayer materials

As for materials, but also -

• indication of the range of material combinations that can be

bonded

• consideration of Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and

Restriction of Chemicals (REACh) acceptability

12/9/2016


Synthetic biology for materials

12/9/2016

Known

material

Novel

material Microbe is the material

Added functionality

Cheaper

Accessibility

OFFICIAL

Personal

protection

• eyes

Platforms

• windows

Sensors • beyond

the visible

Microbes

Cell-free systems

Known and novel

pathways

Templating

Cells

Organisms

Communities

OFFICIAL 12/9/2016

Crown copyright 2016 Dstl

12/9/2016

Programme vision for materials

“……..exploiting global investment in state of the art materials and

structures science for enhanced defence and security capability.”

Future proofing that from which defence equipment is made!


Challenges

Challenge 1: novel transparent materials

Challenge 2: adhesives and interlayer materials

• pick the most appropriate one for the application selected to get

the relevant assessors

• no pre-determined allocation of funds between challenges

OFFICIAL 12/9/2016


What we don’t want

• existing solutions or technology, which have already been tested

and found to have limited utility

• proposals that comprise a paper study, review or similar

• solutions requiring the release of Genetically Modified

Organisms (GMOs) into the environment

OFFICIAL 12/9/2016


What we don’t want

• proposals in areas where there is already a significant research effort

- unless there’s a clearly defined new application relevant to defence

and security

• proposals without a synthetic biology component in the approach

OFFICIAL 12/9/2016


Bidding - making reviewers’ lives easier and improving your

chances

• identify the defence application clearly

what will be the benefit?

• identify the synthetic biology component clearly

• how is this highly innovative?

• what advantages does this provide over currently available solutions?

12/9/2016


Bidding - making reviewers’ lives easier and improving your

chances

• have you assembled a team that can do this?

• provide a full technical justification

decision is evidence-based and assessors can only judge the proposal on

what is in it

• read the guidance

• submit early

• the deadline really is the deadline

12/9/2016 OFFICIAL Crown copyright 2016 Dstl

Synthetic biology

Exploitation

• up to £1 million for phase 2 funding

• main MOD research programme

• commercial partners

OFFICIAL 12/9/2016


CDE themed comp -syn-bio part 2

Government & Nonprofit

Transcript of CDE themed comp -syn-bio part 2