METHOD FOR PRODUCING OPTICAL MEMBER AND OPTICAL MEMBER FORMED BY THE PRODUCTION PROCESS

• US 20100225013A1
• Filed: 09/18/2008
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoshioka, Masato, Watanabe, Seiichi, Eiha, Noriko
• Application Number:
  US12/675,422
• Publication Number:
  US 20100225013A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 264/1.100
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2043/3618 plurality of counteracting elements
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2043/503 using ejector pins, rods
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/021 characterised by the shape of the surface
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00 Producing optical elements, e.g. lenses or prisms grinding or polishing of optical elements B24B; constructional form of optical elements G02B; optical parts of spectacles G02C7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2011/0016 Lenses
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 5/005 Reinforced macromolecular compounds with nanosized materials, e.g. nanoparticles, nanofibres, nanotubes, nanowires, nanorods or nanolayered materials

Abstract

A method for producing an optical member from a nanocomposite material which includes a thermoplastic resin containing inorganic fine particles is provided. The method includes:

• • a first step of preparing in a solution the thermoplastic resin containing the inorganic fine particles;
  • a second step of drying and solidifying the solution containing the prepared thermoplastic resin to produce the nanocomposite material having a specific surface area (surface area/volume) of 15 mm⁻¹ or more; and
  • a third step of heat-compressing the produced nanocomposite material to form the optical member in a desired shape.

Claims

1. A method for producing an optical member from a nanocomposite material which includes a thermoplastic resin containing inorganic fine particles,

the method comprising:

a first step of preparing in a solution the thermoplastic resin containing the inorganic fine particles;

a second step of drying and solidifying the solution containing the prepared thermoplastic resin to produce the nanocomposite material having a specific surface area of 15 mm<sup>−

1</sup> or more; and

a third step of heat-compressing the produced nanocomposite material to form the optical member in a desired shape.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the drying and solidifying is conducted to a droplet of the solution of the thermoplastic resin containing the inorganic fine particles.

3. The method for producing an optical member according to claim 2, wherein the drying and solidifying is conducted by continuously ejecting the droplet of the solution through a spray nozzle in a pressurized state.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the drying and solidifying is conducted by repeatedly ejecting the droplet of the solution through a nozzle of an inkjet head.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the ejecting of the droplet is repeated until an amount of the solution reaches a volume of at least one optical member to be formed by the heat-compressing in the third step.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein the droplet of the solution has a diameter of 0.5 mm or less.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the drying and solidifying is conducted by freeze-drying the solution the solution of the thermoplastic resin containing the inorganic fine particles.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the drying and solidifying is conducted by:

weighing an enough amount of the solution of the thermoplastic resin containing the inorganic fine particles to form one optical member; and

freeze-drying the solution in a mold having a smaller inner size than that of the optical member.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the heat-compressing of the nanocomposite material is conducted in vacuum state, in a carbon dioxide gas, or in a nitrogen gas.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the optical member is a lens or a lens precursor.

11. An optical member produced by a method according to claim 1.