Birefringence-free acrylic resin for precision plastic optics

Various optical components using polarized optics have been developed for the optical data storage, imaging and display. For developing the high performance products with reduced cost, novel transparent plastics offering no birefringence are in demand. Birefringence-free acrylic copolymers that are based on the molecular design in which compensates the polarity of the macromolecule by using random copolymerization of the positive-birefringent monomers with the negative-birefringent monomers, have ben developed to meet the demand. These resins can offer the molded products having no birefringence even in the near-gate part because the birefringence based on the molecular orientation caused by molding process is compensated by the molecular structure. In addition, they offer high heat resistance or colorless transparency with low moisture absorption due to copolymers include the rigid and hydrophobic monomer components having cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon groups. Because of the above characteristics, it has just been applied to some precision-molded lenses for optical laser pick-ups and liquid crystalline projectors. It is fully able to meet the applications as optical laser pick-ups, liquid crystalline projectors, liquid crystalline displays, etc.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.