Generation of front-surface low-mass epoxy-composite mirrors by spin casting

Robert L. Richardson; Peter R. Griffiths

doi:10.1117/1.1333097

1 February 2001 Generation of front-surface low-mass epoxy-composite mirrors by spin casting

Robert L. Richardson, Peter R. Griffiths

Optical Engineering, Vol. 40, Issue 2, (February 2001). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.1333097

Spin-casting liquid mixtures followed by in situ polymerization offers an elegant and inexpensive method of generating front surface paraboloidal mirrors of almost any focal length, aperture, and on- or off-axis character, requiring no post polishing. Mirrors have been made from a variety of substrates including epoxy-composite mixtures, with focal lengths ranging from 2 to 80 m, and apertures from 5 to 76 cm. The goal of this project was to make spin-cast mirrors for use as reflectors, telescopes, and cat’s-eye retroreflectors in open path Fourier transform infrared (OP/FT-IR) spectrometry. These mirrors were designed for portable outdoor use, and thus have been optimized for maximum ruggedness and mechanical strength, and minimal mass, coefficient of thermal expansion, and cost. After spin-casting, the only preparation prior to silvering is a thermal post-cure. Results are presented giving details of the materials, hardware, and procedures used to spin-cast paraboloidal mirrors.

©(2001) Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)

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Robert L. Richardson and Peter R. Griffiths "Generation of front-surface low-mass epoxy-composite mirrors by spin casting," Optical Engineering 40(2), (1 February 2001). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.1333097

Published: 1 February 2001

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