US4680049A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for molding optical components of silicate glass to a near net shape optical precision
Assignee: Corning Cable Systems Puerto Rico Inc
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Filing: 1986-08-15
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Granted: 1987-07-14
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Expires: 2006-08-15
Abstract
Abstract A silicate optical glass article is made by forming a gel from a hydrolyzed silicon alkoxide. The resulting gel is molded, cured, dried, solvents removed, heated to form a dense glass having near net shape dimensions thereby reducing expensive polishing steps to obtain the desired final dimensions and surface quality.
Inventors
- 👤 Paulette I. K. Onorato
- 👤 Sophia R. Su
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 00:15
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08L; C08L83/00; C08L83/02; C01; C01B; C01B33/00; C01B33/113; C01B33/12; C01B33/14; C01B33/157; C01B33/158; C01B33/1585; C03; C03B; C03B19/00; C03B19/12; C03C; C03C1/00; C03C1/006; C03C2203/00; C03C2203/20; C03C2203/26; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S65/00; Y10S65/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
A method for making a near net shape silicate optical glass article comprising the following steps: Step 1--completely hyrdrolyzing silicon alkoxide in a solvent to form a solution having a molar ratio of silicon alkoxide to water in the range of about 1 to about 10; Step 2--partially removing from about 20 to about 60 volume percent of the solvent from the resulting solution of step 1 to form a concentrate; Step 3--transferring the product formed in step 2 into a mold; Step 4--completely polymerizing the product from step 3; Step 5--removing the remaining solvent from the product of step 4 to form a solid by supercritically drying said product of step 4; Step 6--removing the solid from step 5 from the mold; Step 7--sintering the product from step 6 to a density greater than 99% of theoretical obtainable density at a temperature equal to or less than 1150° C. to form a near net shape dense glass article having a near net shape deviation equal to or less than about 12 microns over 3 mm of surface.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
178 words
A method for making a near net shape silicate optical glass article comprising the following steps: Step 1--completely hyrdrolyzing silicon alkoxide in a solvent to form a solution having a molar ratio of silicon alkoxide to water in the range of about 1 to about 10; Step 2--partially removing from about 20 to about 60 volume percent of the solvent from the resulting solution of step 1 to form a concentrate; Step 3--transferring the product formed in step 2 into a mold; Step 4--completely polymerizing the product from step 3; Step 5--removing the remaining solvent from the product of step 4 to form a solid by supercritically drying said product of step 4; Step 6--removing the solid from step 5 from the mold; Step 7--sintering the product from step 6 to a density greater than 99% of theoretical obtainable density at a temperature equal to or less than 1150° C. to form a near net shape dense glass article having a near net shape deviation equal to or less than about 12 microns over 3 mm of surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method in accordance in accordance with claim 1 wherein said silicon alkoxide in step 1 comprises tetramethyl orthosilicate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said solvent comprises methanol.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said partially removing said solvent comprises removing about 40 v/o of said solvent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said partially removing comprises partially removing by vacuum distillation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said removing the remaining solvent comprises removing by displacing remaining solvent with methanol and supercritical drying.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
101 words
A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein said supercritical drying comprises immersing the product from step 4 in methanol contained in a pressure reactor; pressurizing to 600 psi in argon; heating the reactor to about 280° C. to obtain a pressure of 2400 psi; releasing said pressure over a period of about 3 to about 5 hours and maintaining a temperature at about 260° C. to about 280° C.; flushing said reactor slowly with helium or an inert gas when said pressure has reached ambient; and continuing said flushing with an inert gas until the room temperature has been obtained.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-07-13 | 1991-01-12 | 1991-07-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-07-13 | 1995-01-12 | 1995-07-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-07-13 | 1999-01-12 | 1999-07-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |