Development of New Plastic by Hydrogenation of Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymer for Optical Uses

Abstract

Special qualities such as high clarity and low birefringence, high humidity resistance, high heat resistance and fine moldability are required for optical plastics. Cycloolefin polymers (COP) with a better balance of properties for optical materials have been developed by Nippon Zeon Co. Ltd., and commercial production was started in 1991. The COP is prepared by ring-opening metathesis polymerization of norbornene type monomers, followed by complete hydrogenation of double bonds.
The hydrogenated ring-opening metathesis polymers (HROP) derived from norbornene type monomers with bulky aliphatic substituents are amorphous and have good transparency, small photoelastic coefficients to reduce birefringence of molded articles, and high glass transition temperatures to keep heat resistance. HROP without any hygroscopic groups, especially, provide an outstanding feature in extremely low water absorption, demonstrating excelence in moisture resistance and high reliabilities for optical articles.
HROP ha ve already been produced on a commercial basis and have been employed for various high performance optical articles such as lenses, prisms, mirrors, optical discs, sheets for LCD, cells for optical analysis, etc.