ENHANCEMENT OF OPTICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF POLYMERIC OPTICAL ELEMENTS BY ANNEALING UNDER COMPRESSED GAS, ESPECIALLY REMOVING MOLECULAR ORIENTATION RESIDUAL STRESS

摘要

PURPOSE: An enhancement of optical and mechanical properties of polymeric optical elements by annealing under compressed gas is provided to enhance optical and mechanical properties of polymeric optical elements by annealing under compressed gas. CONSTITUTION: A method for enhancing optical and mechanical properties of polymeric optical elements by annealing under compressed gas includes the steps of: (a) loading a polymer optical element into a chamber; (b) annealing the polymer optical element by inserting the compressed gas into the chamber as an annealing medium; and (c) removing the annealing medium form the chamber.