LEAD-FREE OPTICAL GLASSES WITH A HARD FLINT POSITION

Abstract

Optical glasses are described, which are useful for imaging, sensors, microscopy, medical technology, digital protection, photolithography, laser technology, wafer/chip technology, as well as telecommunication, optical communications engineering and optics/lighting in the automotive sector, with a refractive index of 1.80≦nd≦1.95 and an Abbe value from 19≦νd≦28 with excellent chemical resistance and stability to crystallization. These optical glasses have a composition, in weight % based on oxide content, of: P2O5, 14-35; Nb2O5, 45-50; Li2O, 0-4; Na2O, 0-4; K2O, 0.5-5; BaO, 17-23; ZnO, 0.1-5; TiO2, 1-<5; ZrO2, 06; and Sb2O3, 0.1-2.

Description

Claims

1. An optical glass having a composition, in wt. % based on oxide content, of:

2. The glass according to claim 1, which is B2O3-free, contamination-free of amounts of SiO2, and/or contamination-free of residues of metallic crucible materials.

3. The glass according to claim 1, wherein a total amount of said TiO2 and said ZrO2 does not exceed 7 wt. % and/or a total amount of alkali metal oxides present does not exceed 8 wt. %.

4. The glass according to claim 1, containing up to 6 wt. % of aluminium oxide.

5. The glass according to claim 1, containing up to 5 wt. % of Ag2O.

6. The glass according to claim 1, containing at least one oxide selected from the group consisting of La2O3, Y2O3, Bi2O3, Gd2O3, GeO2, Ta2O5, Yb2O5 and WO3, and wherein said at least one oxide is present in a total amount of up to 5 wt. %.

7. The glass according to claim 1, containing at least one ingredient selected from the group consisting of MgO, CaO, SrO and F, and wherein said at least one ingredient is present in a total amount of up to 5 wt. %.

8. The glass according to claim 1, which is free of Pt and free of SiO2.

9. The glass according to claim 1, further comprising one or more of the following components as fining agents, in wt. %:

10. The glass according to claim 1, having a refractive index nd of 1.80≦nd≦1.95 and/or an Abbe number νd of 19≦νd≦28.

11. A method of producing a glass according to claim 1, said method comprising setting oxidizing conditions in a glass melt from which said glass is made.

12. An optical element, which is a lens, prisms light guide rod, array, optical fiber, gradient component or an optical window, said optical element comprising a glass as defined in claim 1.

13. A method of producing an optical element, said method comprising pressing a glass as defined in claim 1 to form said optical element.

14. An optical part or an optical component for imaging, sensors, microscopy, medical technology, digital protection, telecommunication, optical communications engineering/information transmission, optics/lighting in the automotive sector, photolithography, steppers, excimer lasers, wafers, computer chips, as well as integrated circuits and electronic devices which contain such circuits and chips, said optical part or component comprising a glass as defined in claim 1.