Abstract
PDMS has become a frequently used material in the elaboration of optical components such as: variable focal length liquid lenses, optical waveguides, solid elastic lenses, etc. In this work we describe the elaboration of PDMS samples, and we present the physical and optical properties of the material when a variation on its synthesis parameters (mixture ratio of base: curing agent, curing temperature and curing time) is implemented during their elaboration. Tensile and compressive tests were carried out to obtain the corresponding stress-strain curves of the material, and UV-Vis spectroscopy was applied to obtain transmittance and absorbance curves of the samples. A variation of the refractive index of the samples was observed and homogeneity of the samples was studied with the Raman spectra obtained from the samples. Results of the characterization determined the appropriate synthesis parameters for the elaboration of a tunable refractive surface for potential applications in artificial vision.
Highlights
The field of optical instrumentation has evolved due to new technological requirements and the introduction of new free-form optics components which include optical microcomponents, tunable lenses, gradient index optical components etc. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]; new processes for fabrication are needed since the techniques and materials currently used are limited to meet demand [6, 7, 8]
A coded matrix was established of the synthesis parameters variation for the PDMS samples as seen in Table 1; mechanical and optical properties were measured for all elaborated samples
The measurements made with the Abbe refractometer determined the refractive indices for each PDMS sample cured at different temperatures and are shown in Figure 6; we observe that an increase in the refractive index of the samples is related to an increase in the variation of the synthesis parameters, as curing temperature and mixture ratio
Summary
The field of optical instrumentation has evolved due to new technological requirements and the introduction of new free-form optics components which include optical microcomponents, tunable lenses, gradient index optical components etc. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]; new processes for fabrication are needed since the techniques and materials currently used are limited to meet demand [6, 7, 8]. The measurements of its tension, compression and shear moduli, Poisson ratio, and density with different mixture ratios (base: curing agent) have been previously reported for the manufacture of devices for microfluidics applications [19, 25, 26] In this direction, studies have shown that curing the material at high temperatures (above the recommended temperature reported by the supplier) affects the mechanical properties of PDMS components as its decomposition initiates within the range of 300–310 C [21].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
