Re: Is it possible to dope acrylic to achieve a higher index of refraction?

I was led to believe that glass could have it's index changed by
doping it with lead. And I know that gradient index glass is made by
putting glass bars in a bath of something which then diffuses into the
glass, is it sodium perhaps? Anyway, the presence of these dopants
changes the index (although very slightly). Perhaps the dopants are
straining, or relieving, the bonds in such a way as to alter the
index. Why could you not do the samething in a polymer?

On Jun 24, 11:55 am, Salmon Egg <salmon...@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On 6/24/07 8:00 AM, in article
1182697249.326935.255...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Swedi Wasolela"

<bosco.sm...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hello,

Does anyone know if there are compounds one can add to acrylic during
extrusion or casting to achieve a higher index of refraction (even at
the expense of some clarity?). How high can you go. Is it remotely
possible to reach levels or 1.8 or 1.9? Does anyone make such
products already?

Cheers,

Swedi Wasolela

Not really. The source of the index comes from the chemical bonds. Just
about any decent book on physical chemistry will have a table of molecular
polarizabilities for various bonds. Any significant change in index would
require a significant change in molecular structure.

Bill
-- Support the troops. Impeach Bush. Oh, I forgot about Cheney.


.

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