Molding of the high refractive index lens with the heat-resistant Ni-alloy plated steel molds.

Abstract

In optical and optoelectronic products such as digital cameras, mobile phones, and high-density optical disc systems, many optical lenses are used. Recently, glass lenses have been needed increasingly compared to plastic lenses in view of good optical characteristics and stability to environmental changes. In the present work, steel molds plated with NiP (nickel-phosphorus alloy) which have been used for molding plastic lenses are applied to mold glass lenses in order to produce low cost glass lenses and diffractive optical elements (DOE) made of glass. It is possible to mold glass lenses by NiP-plated mold under the appropriate conditions.