Optical glass fabrication technology. 1: Fine grinding mechanism using bound diamond abrasives.

The mechanism for fine grinding using diamond tools is shown to depend on the properties of the glass, the acidity of the grinding fluid, as well as the chemical and mechanical properties of the abrasive bonding material. Knowledge of the mechanism is essential for the implementation of this technology for the deterministic fabrication of precision optical surfaces. We find that the fracture mechanism is preferred to plastic scratching for most applications.