Isoclima in Italy supplies Iveco with most of the transparent armour for the LMV Lince; here a window after a test firing at the Nettuno proving ground. (Armada/Paolo Valpolini)
APM2 single shot round has a thickness of 103 mm and an areal density of 227 kg/m2 while the ArmorLine spinel lowers those figures to 49 mm and 100 kg/m2, in other words by 53% and 56% respectively. Those data are confirmed looking at an ATPD 2352 Class 3A transparent, where thickness decreases from 112 to 52 mm and areal density from 249 to 109 kg/m2. ArmorLine is not a laminator however, thus weights mentioned are for non-optimised testing items and could be further optimised. In Stanag parlance, aerial density obtained for Level 2 transparents is around 69 kg/m2 while for Level 3, against 7.62 x 54R B32 API, this is increased to 84 kg/m2. Isoclima of Italy started working on Among the technologies used to increase transparent armour durability, Isoclima developed an encapsulation method that ensures maximum life to its laminates. (Isoclima)
transparent armour in the early 1980s, for both civil and military markets, and has since developed proprietary technologies to optimise the lamination of glass and polycarbonate. It has provided most of the Iveco DV LMV glass solutions, tailored to the requirement of the various customers of the 4x4 light multirole vehicle. For example, the transparent adopted on Russian LMVs is capable of withstanding temperatures of between –45°C and +70°C, the coupling being here a key element as the polycarbonate thermal expansion coefficient is eight times that of the glass. Among its products we find a Level 2 solution with 58-59 mm thickness and an areal density of 125-130 kg/m2, and aLevel 3 with corresponding data of 79-80 mm and 157-162 kg/m2, both for standard temperature operations. The company is currently considering new solutions for improving performances while lowering weights; it is thus testing new materials such as spinel and others, although the management is pretty convinced that improvement stays with the complete package and therefore improving glass characteristics as well as those of lamination material, such as films, will allow Isoclima to improve its position on the market. The company also has developed solutions to improve the transparent armour life, such as anti-scratch treatments on the polycarbonate backing as well as a proprietary magnetically fixed outer ply that protects the ballistic window from rock and stone damage known as Antistone Protection Solution (AspS). The removable protective layer is based on a dual sealing magnetic gasket holding an outer protection shield made of external glass and internal tecnopolymer, an air chamber being created between this and the transparent armour. All possible drawbacks were considered and verified, i.e. condensation, optical distortion, etc., tests having shown minimal impact on those characteristics. On the other hand the AspS contributes to hugely reduce maintenance and increase transparent armour life. Many of the solutions developed by Isoclima are due to the involvement of the company in the advanced aerospace transparent solutions.
INTERNATIONAL
1/2014
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