Layered Polymeric Optical Systems Using Continuous Coextrusion
Abstract
Polymers are receiving considerable attention as components in novel optical systems because of the tailored functionality, ease of manufacturing, and relatively low cost. The processing of layered polymeric systems by coextrusion is a method to produce films comprising hundreds to thousands of alternating layers in a single, one-step roll-to-roll process. Several layered polymer optical systems have been fabricated by coextrusion, including gradient refractive index lenses, tunable refractive index elastomers, photonic crystals, and mechanically tunable photonic crystals. Layered polymeric optical systems made by coextrusion can also incorporate active components such as photoreactive additives for multilayered patterning and laser dyes for all-polymer laser systems. Coextrusion is a process which allows for the flexible design of polymeric optical systems using layers with thickness spanning the nanoscale to the microscale.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA512971
Entities
People
- Anne Hiltner
- Christoph Weder
- Eric Baer
- Guy Beadie
- Hyunmin Song
- James Andrews
- Joe Lott
- Juefei Zhou
- Kenneth Singer
- Richard Lepkowicz
- Robert Bunch
- Yeheng Wu
Organizations
- Case Western Reserve University