Optical properties of a retro-reflection fiber cross sectionformed via tri-component fiber extrusion

摘要

A retro-reflection, polymer fiber cross section is fabricated using a tri-component fiber extruder. The fiber cross section is comprised of a series of right angles. The right angles are retro-reflection features that run the entire length of the fiber. The retro-reflective features are formed by an extrusion process where the polymer fiber material is forced through a series of plates resulting in the cross section having the desired shape. Because the fiber cross sectional features form naturally by intersecting chords, the features scale naturally and have a tendency to maintain their form when the fiber is drawn to the desired diameter. Alternating the indices of refraction of the cross-sectional features allows for the realization of a number of unique and useful optical effects. The fiber cross section exhibits refraction and diffraction qualities as well as retro-reflection properties. As such, it exhibits prismatic and multiple-order diffraction interference. Hence, the fiber appears colorful when illuminated with white light. The colors can be controlled by a number of means: for example by the inclusion of dyes, nanoparticles, and by post-processing applications of thin films.