Grand Prairie, Texas Patent of the Year – 2024/2025
Texstars LLC has been awarded the 2024/2025 Patent of the Year for their innovative approach to aerospace transparency technology. Their invention, detailed in U.S. Patent No. 11865814, titled ‘p-Static capped stretched acrylic transparencies’, introduces a novel method for enhancing the durability and performance of aircraft windows.
This new technology addresses the persistent issue of precipitation static, or p-static, which can interfere with aircraft communication and navigation systems. Texstars’ solution involves a unique construction of acrylic transparencies, incorporating a conductive polymer layer that dissipates static electricity effectively. By embedding this conductive layer within the acrylic material itself, the invention eliminates the need for external coatings, which are prone to wear and degradation over time.
The process begins with a cast acrylic sheet, which is then capped with a conductive acrylic layer containing a polymer such as polythiophene. This assembly is cured and stretched together, resulting in a robust, integrated transparency that maintains its anti-static properties throughout its service life. The use of stretchable acrylic enhances the material’s resistance to cracking, a critical factor in aerospace applications.
Texstars’ innovation represents a significant advancement in aerospace materials, offering improved safety and reliability for aircraft operators and passengers alike.
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