In the far term, the above improvements will be extended and the following new capabilities will emerge:

• Armor materials will be designed for multiple functions (ballistic protection, signature reduction, etc.).

• Biologically engineered fibers will enhance ballistic protection for the individual soldier.

• Nonlinear models for dynamic systems will lead to major advances in the design of materials for ballistic protection.

Recent major breakthroughs in processing will significantly reduce the cost of resin-based organic composites. Conventional processing involves the application of heat and pressure, typically through use of an autoclave. Heat transfer depends on relatively slow conduction and convection mechanisms. A nonconventional alternative is electromagnetic curing, which uses microwave-absorbing features of the matrix resin (pendant groups attached to the polymeric backbone) to generate heat evenly and immediately throughout the material. The heating to set the resin can be done in minutes instead of hours. In addition, these advanced processing methods will allow complex parts to be made in one operation. Key Army applications are ground vehicles and in situ structural reinforcements.

Ordered polymers make use of the inherent strength of the carbon-carbon bond by increasing the density of such bonds in the material. If adjacent polymer chains can be more closely aligned, the matrix's mechanical properties can be substantially improved. The chemical backbone of the polymer can also be modified to make the chain itself more rigid. Incorporating these rigid-rod polymers within another host matrix gives a molecular-level reinforcement.

Composites that are reinforced in this way, at the molecular level, are easier to process and can be easily fabricated into components with complex geometries. Body armor for the individual soldier is one area of potential applications. Also, because organic polymers are generally transparent to electromagnetic radiation (e.g., from radars), a structure fabricated from polymer-reinforced composites has low-observable characteristics.

"Toughness" refers to the ability of a material to absorb energy with minimal damage and to resist crack propagation. In the development of organic matrix composites, high toughness has often conflicted with competing requirements for high strength and stiffness. Anticipated future advances in the molecular engineering of polymer

Front Matter (R1-R18)

Executive Summary (1-23)

1 Introduction (24-41)

2 System Applications of Advanced Technologies (42-102)

3 Technology Assessments and Forecasts (103-191)

4 Advanced Technologies of Importance to the Army (192-203)

5 Technology Management Strategy (204-239)

6 Technology Implications for Force Structure and Strategy (240-255)

7 Conclusions and Recommendations (256-266)

Appendixes (267-268)

A Comparison of Technology Lists (269-286)

B Contributors to the STAR Study (287-298)

Glossary (299-302)

Index (303-312)