Vacuum isostatic micro molding of diffractive structures into PTFE materials

Abstract

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is an ideal material for use in industrial, automotive and consumer electronics. Specifically, PTFE has outstanding physical properties; such as chemical inertness and resistance to chemical corrosion, even when exposed to a strong acid, alkali and oxidants. Its properties provide for superior electrical insulation and thermal stability, which is not affected by wide ranges in temperature and frequency. Its non-absorption of moisture makes it a perfect material for consideration in micro optical, retro-reflector or diffuser type devices used in handheld displays, flat panel displays as well as automotive, industrial and home lighting. This paper presents an overview of a unique fabrication method that incorporates a variety of elements to establish a processing technique that can form micro diffractive, holographic and reflective structures into PTFE materials. By means of modifying an existing known molding process, this new technique incorporates the addition of a vacuum to assist in the reliable molding and densification of the PTFE as well the use of a micro-structured electroformed shim to form small microstructures into the surface of the PTFE material. The combination of the vacuum and the electroformed shim within the molding process noticeably increases the precision, reproducibility and resolution of micro-structures that can be realized. The paper will describe the molding hardware involved, process parameters and the resulting structures formed. Optical function testing and metrology of the micro-structure geometry formed on each sample will be compared to the original design mandrel geometry [1].