It depends a lot on how big the civilian market is and actual
production cost.
I think transistors were being used in consumer portable radios while
the Army still was using tubes in walkie talkies. Kevlar was used in
tires long before NASA would use it. No mil spec.

Dan


Don Stauffer wrote:
BillP wrote:

Yep... Even if the stuff IS suitable for applications like eyeglasses,
there's still the "military lag" factor... Us civilians likely won't
see any benefit from it for years, if ever.


Ayyyup!
Bill

I can remember many technologies where the lag has been in the other
direction. Sometimes getting a new material or new electronic
technology through the mil spec certification means that military
applications lag civil ones. Transistor is a good example.