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 optical sensor applications in harsh environments as well as in automotive, aerospace, industrial and home lighting. This paper presents an overview of a unique fabrication method that incorporates a variety of technologies to establish a processing technique that can form micro scale diffractive and retro-reflective structures into fused and semi-fused PTFE materials. Example structures and a single design will that was function tested will be presented with comparison metrology of the micro-structure geometry formed on the sample as compared to the original design mandrel geometry.

Date Published: 25 April 2008
PDF: 8 pages
Proc. SPIE 6994, Photon Management III, 69940M (25 April 2008); doi: 10.1117/12.781362

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 6994:
Photon Management III
John T. Sheridan; Frank Wyrowski, Editor(s)