Invention:
This invention is a method for fabricating complex 3D printed glass microstructures with controllable local transparency, targeting applications such as optical lens design and advanced optical components. It uses polymeric silsesquioxane (PSQ) and two-photon polymerization (TPP) to tune transparency levels by manipulating parameters like laser power, scanning speed, part thickness, and pyrolysis heating rate. This technique enables the creation of multi-transparency glass micro-objects with high precision, providing a scalable solution for integrating varying transparency regions into a single glass structure. The ability to control the transmission of light through different sections of the glass structure paves the way for diverse applications in optics and other fields requiring tailored optical properties.
Background:
Glass is an essential material, because of its physical and chemical properties. However, it is a material that is challenging to process in terms of transparency, strength, and resistance to chemical reactions. Tuning glass transparency is a key element of controlling light intensity and blocking unwanted light when creating microstructures. Current 3D printing methods of glass have limited control over transparency, in which other processes must be used to improve and create the transparency. An improved method would allow for enhanced structure functionality and more applications. Additive manufacturing techniques, such as two-photon polymerization, have opened new possibilities for creating intricate 3D microstructures. This invention addresses these challenges by allowing precise in-situ control over the transparency of glass micro-objects during the printing process, offering enhanced design flexibility and efficiency.
Applications:
- 3D glass printing
- Optical fabrication
- Glass microstructures
Advantages:
- Increased 3D glass transparency
- Better control of glass transparency
- Enhanced functionality and versatility
- Allows for more complex and diverse applications
