Production of glass material having refractive index distribution

Abstract

Abstract PURPOSE:To obtain a glass material having a large refractive index distribution in the axial direction inexpensively and by a relatively easy method, by immersing a gelatinous glass material containing a Zr component in an eluting solution of sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid or nitric acid at <= the boiling temperature, drying and sintering. CONSTITUTION:A raw material is hydrolyzed to give a Zr-containing gelatinous glass material having a given shape, which is partially immersed in sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid or nitric acid and partially eluted. Then the gel is washed with water or another cleaning solution, gradually dried, sintered by an electric furnace at high temperature and made into glass. By the production of the glass material, since (1) room temperature is used as eluting temperature and desired refractive index distribution can be obtained in a relatively short time, operation efficiency can be extremely improved. (2) Since large difference in refractive index is obtained by addition of a small amount of Zr, high numerical aperture can be obtained. (3) Since a high-silica glass aqueous is obtained, weather resistance can be improved. (4) Since a large amount of samples can be treated and produced in a single, operation the production has high mass productive effects and reduction in cost can be attained.

Inventors

• 👤 Kazuo Shingyouchi
• 👤 新行内　和夫
• 👤 Shiro Konishi
• 👤 小西　史郎

Bibliographic Details