This program will develop a series of optical cements whose index of refraction exactly matches the index of the glass elements being laminated. Such matching is needed because every time light passes from a medium of one refractive index into a medium of a different refractive index, some of the light is reflected. In multi-element optical assemblies, multiple reflections from the internal interfaces result in multiple ghost images and significant loss of transmitted light. Cements that exactly match the glass elements will eliminate such reflections.Cements have been made with indexes as low as 1.38 and as high as 1.6, but not with exact pre- specified indexes. This program will result in cements that exactly match given optical glasses.The commercial potential of index-matched optical cements is even greater than the government potential - anywhere complex optical trains are used, for example: camera and projector lenses; binoculars; microscopes and other scientific instruments; and laminated panels such as safety eyewear and safety automobile windshields.We regularly manufacture and market such items as optical cements, fiber optics cladding, light and moisture barriers for lens assemblies, and anti-reflection coatings. The new cements will fit right into our product line and will be commercialized aggressively by direct-mail flyers, advertisements in the trade literature, and by personal contact. We expect them to be quite popular.
Keywords: Phase_I, NASA, Abstract, FY94
