Gradient refractive-index optical rod prepared from methacrylate derivatives

Abstract

A new method of preparing gradient refractive-index (GRIN) rods by using the swollen-gel polymerization technique is discussed. The polymerization of methyl methacrylate with benzyl methacrylate (BzMA) was carried out in a poly(methyl methacrylate) tube. The diffusion of the higher-refractive-index monomer BzMA in the swollen gel led to the formation of a GRIN distribution. After complete polymerization, a good symmetric and bubble-free GRIN rod was fabricated. An image with no distortion can be observed through the GRIN rods prepared by swollen-gel polymerization.

Fabrication and characterization of optical plastic rods in the presence of dicumyl peroxide

“…A bubble-free optical rod was obtained by using the swollen-gel polymerization technique 14) initiated with DCPO. The swelling process was carried out at a relatively low temperature (T 1 ) to avoid polymerization.…”

“…4. 5 shows the three-dimensional refractive index profile of the GRIN rod; the good symmetry around the central axis suggests that the GRIN rod is prepared successfully using the swollen-gel polymerization technique [14][15][16] . The image of a checkered pattern with a 767 mm square observed through the GRIN (MMA/BzMA = 4/1) rod is shown in Fig.…”

“…Recently, we proposed a novel technique, the swollengel polymerization method 14,15) , for preparing large core and bubble-free GRIN polymer optical rods. GRIN plastic rods are formed by the extension of the swollen-gel from the inner wall of the original plastic tube, and a linear polymer GRIN rod with no voids and bubbles is obtained.…”

New class of bioinspired lenses with a gradient refractive index

“…9,10 There is substantial literature describing efforts to fabricate optical materials with a gradient index from inorganic glasses or optically transparent polymers. 11 For polymers, these include diffusion copolymerization, [12][13][14] extrusion copolymerization, [15][16][17] plasma copolymerization, 18,19 interfacial gel copolymerization, [20][21][22][23][24][25] variations of the interfacial gel method, 26 photocopolymerization, 27,28 and centrifugal diffusing polymerization. 29,30 Spherical GRIN lenses have been reported by suspension polymerization.…”

Preparation and simulation of graded‐index polymer rods by interfacial‐gel polymerization

“…Graded-index (GI) polymers have recently attracted extensive attention in light of their highly promising potential in optical fiber communication and polymer-based optic integrated circuits. [1][2][3] The GI polymer rod is a cylindrical medium with a parabolic refractive index distribution in which the refractive index is the highest at the rod's optical axis and decreases toward the periphery with the square of the radial distance from the optical axis. The refractive index at any distance from the optical axis is given by 2 n͑r͒ ϭ n 0 ͑1 Ϫ Ar 2 /2͒ (1) where n(r) is the refractive index at any distance r, n 0 is the refractive index at the optical axis, A is the positive gradient constant, and r is the radial distance from the optical axis.…”