Effects of CW high intensity laser irradiation on ceramic composite radome materials

Recently developed ceramic composite materials have been subjected to various CW high intensity irradiation and their responses were studied as a function of composition and processing parameters. The addition of high-purity silica, alumino-silicate and alumina fibers to slip-cast fused silica (SCFS) resulted in a moderate increase in flexural strength and elastic modulus but had no effect on the ablation rate. Under CW laser irradiation at 10.6 micrometers and an intensity of 2 kW/square centimeters, the fiber-reinforced fused silica samples failed by meltthrough with their penetration rates all being approximately 0.15 to 0.25 centimeters per second. The damage area around the laser hole was melted into a glassy phase with the fibers completely dissolved.