Refractive index matching for high light transmission composite systems

Abstract

Transparent optical polymer/filler systems can be produced into complex shapes for a range of applications, such as lenses, shields, and containers. This work used refractive index liquids as a model for polymer matrices to investigate the degree of refractive index match required to maintain high transmission in an inorganic-filled polymer system (cubic calcium fluoride with particle size of 1 to 5 µm) over the visible spectrum. It was determined that in order to achieve a transparent composite (>85% transmission with 10 mm pathlength) with this filler (using literature reported dispersion data), the materials must have a refractive index match within ±0.007 for 1.6 vol.% loading. With a loading of 3.1 vol.%, the matching range required was reduced to approximately ±0.002.

Keywords

Light transmission optical clarity refractive index refractive index matching

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Althues

Henle

Kaskel

. Functional inorganic nanofillers for transparent polymers. Chem Soc Rev 2007; 36: 1454–1454.

Koleske JV. Paint and coating testing manual. Richmond, TX: ASTM, 1995, p.370 [ISBN 0-8031-2060-5].

Hanemann

Kirsten

. Viscosity and refractive index tailored methacrylate-based polymers. J Appl Polym Sci 2014; 131: 40194 (1-7)–40194 (1-7).

Anoop A. High refractive index materials and composites thereof. Patent US20080311380 A1, 18 December 2008.

Schulz

Peter

Lutz

. Correlating filler transparency with inorganic/polymer composite transparency. Compos Part A 2007; 38: 2451–2459.

Marcuse

. Refractive index determination by the focusing method. Appl Opt 1979; 18: 9–13.

Edward

. Handbook of optical constants of solids, Waltham, MA: Elsevier, 1997, pp. xvii–xviii.

Pulickel

Linda

Paul

. Nanocomposite science and technology, Weinheim, FRG: Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 2004.

Tsai

CSJ

White

Rodriguez

et al.

Exposure assessment and engineering control strategies for airborne nanoparticles: an application to emissions from nanocomposite compounding processes. J Nanoparticle Res 2012; 14: 989–989.

10.

Churmakov

Meglinski

Greenhalgh

. Influence of refractive index matching on the photon diffuse reflectance. Phys Med Biol 2002; 47: 4271–85.

11.

Franklin

Zhi

. Refractive index matching: a general method for enhancing the optical clarity of a hydrogel matrix. Chem Mater 2002; 14: 4487–4489.

12.

Zelmon

Hanning

Schunemann

. Refractive-index measurements and sellmeier coefficients for zinc germanium phosphide from 2 to 9 µm with implications for phase matching in optical frequency-conversion devices. J Opt Soc America B 2001; 18.9: 1307–1307.

13.

Hanemann

Böhm

Honnef

et al.

Polymer/phenanthrene-derivative host-guest systems: rheological, optical and thermal properties. Macromol Mater Eng 2007; 292: 285–294.

14.

Unknown. TIE-29: refractive index and dispersion. Technical information optics for devices, Schott Glass Made of Ideas, Schott North America, Inc. (2017): 1. p. 1 Print.

15.

Hecht

Zajac

. Optics, 4th ed. Boston, MA: Addison-Wesley, 1974. (ISBN 0-321-18878-0).

16.

Kasarova

Sultanova

Petrova

et al.

Refractive characteristics of thin polymer films. J Optoelectron Adv Mater 2009; 11: 1440–1443.

17.

Sato

Iba

Naganuma

et al.

Effects of the difference between the refractive indices of constituent materials on the light transmittance of glass-particle-dispersed epoxy-matrix optical composites. Philos Mag B 2002; 82: 1369–1386.

18.

Wiederseiner

Andreini

Epely-Chauvin

et al.

Refractive-index and density matching in concentrated particle suspensions: a review. Exp Fluids 2011; 50: 1183–1206.

19.

Crowther

Davis

Mudalamane

et al.

Fundamental factors for opacity and tint generated with titanium dioxide. ▪▪ 2016, pp. 308–313.

20.

Naganuma

Kagawa

. Effect of particle size on light transmittance of glass particle dispersed epoxy matrix. Optic Compos 1999; 47: 4321–4327.

21.

Xue

Zheng

et al.

Effects of annealing and dopant concentration on the optical characteristics of ZnO:Al thin films by sol–gel technique. Phys B 2006; 382: 201–204.

22.

Velez

Schuman

Day

. Optical properties of optically transparent glass-ribbon composites. J Compos Mater 2013; 48(30): 3747–3754.

23.

Wildner

Dietmar

. Wavelength dependent haze of transparent glass-particle filled poly (methyl methacrylate) composites. Institute of Polymer Technology 2014, pp. 1–8.

24.

Koudsi

Hakki

James

. Scalable upconversion medium for static volumetric display. J Display Technol 2015; 11: 266–272.

25.

Fritsch

Mansfeld

Mehring

et al.

Refractive index tuning of highly transparent bismuth containing polymer composites. Polymer 2011; 52: 3263–3268.

26.

Mercado

Wang

Flaim

et al.

Thin-Film polyetherimides with controlled refractive indices. Instrumentation 2004; 5351: 1–8.

27.

Changli

Bai

. High refractive index organic–inorganic nanocomposites: design, synthesis and application. J Mater Chem 2008; 19: 2884–2901.

28.

Jin-Gang

Mitsuru

. High refractive index polymers: fundamental research and practical applications. J Mater Chem 2009; 19: 8907–8919.

29.

Habib

Wang

et al.

Inorganic fillers for dental resin composites: present and future. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2016; 2: 1–11.

30.

Edward AT. “Optically clear filled silicone elastomers. Patent, American Optical Corporation, 1975.

31.

Sekine K. Glass fiber for reinforcing polycarbonate resin and polycarbonate resin formed article. Patent Asahi Fiber Glass Co, 2005.

32.

Giraud A. Transparent composite structural elements and methods for producing same. Patent Compagnie Generale D'Innovation et de Developpement, 1992.

33.

Choiniere

Hankey

Pilliod

et al.

Transparent fiber composite, 20140030522 A1 – Apple Inc., 2012.

34.

http://www.cargille.com/refractivestandards.shtml (accessed 2 March 2018).

35.

Barber

Pollock

Beecroft

et al.

Amplification by optical composites. Optic Lett 1997; 22: 1247–1249.

36.

37.

. Refractive index of alkaline earth halides and its wavelength and temperature derivatives. J Phys Chem 1980; 9: 161–289.

38.

Beadie

Brindza

Flynn

et al.

Refractive index measurements of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) from 0.4-1.6 µm. Appl Opt 2015; 54: F139–F143.

39.

Jenkins

Harvey

. Fundamentals of optics, 4th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2001.

40.

Adobe Systems Incorporated, Adobe Technical Guides, Color theory for the desktop, the interaction of light and matter, 2000, http://dba.med.sc.edu/price/irf/Adobe_tg/color/matter.html (accessed 2 March 2018).

41.

Thibos

Bradley

Still

et al.

Theory and measurement of ocular chromatic aberration. Vision Res 1990; 30: 33–49.

42.

Pascual

de Castro

Kostro

et al.

Diffuse light transmittance of glass fiber-reinforced polymer laminates for multifunctional load-bearing structures. J Compos Mater 2013; 48: 3621–3636.

43.

Krug

III Asuncion

Popova

et al.

Transparent fiber glass reinforced composites. Compos Sci Technol 2013; 77: 95–100.

Supplementary Material

Please find the following supplemental material available below.

For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.

For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.

0.00 MB

0.44 MB