Integral anti-reflective surfaces of silicate glasses

摘要

Glass surfaces are modified using controlled chemical corrosion to reduce reflection for a variety of existing optical and ophthalmic silicate glass compositions containing at least 5 weight % of alkali metal, using neutral or slightly alkaline aqueous solutions (pH: 7.0-8.5) at temperatures of 20 DEG -100 DEG C. The solutions contain an electrolyte having a dissociation constant greater than 10-6 and contain a polyvalent metal ion. Selection of the proper range of the ratio of glass surface area treated to treating solution volume is critical for achieving satisfactory results for optical applications as well as for making the process simple, repeatable, and inexpensive. Using this invention, antireflective surfaces may be produced on optical devices of complex configuration with high uniformity. Such surfaces provide substantially improved performance in high energy laser systems where exposure to laser light of extremely high intensity and short duration will destroy or degrade conventionally applied coatings.