OCULAR PROTECTION FROM LASER HAZARDS

THIN FILMS, TODAY WIDELY USED IN NUMEROUS APPLICATIONS INCLUDING OPTICS, ELECTRONICS, AND SURFACE PROTECTION, ARE COMMONLY DEPOSITED BY A VARIETY OF PHYSICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION (PVD) METHODS. STANDARD PVD TECHNIQUES PRODUCE FILMS WITH INHERENT WEAKNESS OF THEIR OPTICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES BECAUSE OF THEIR TYPICAL COLUMNAR MICROSTRUCTURE, WHICH IS A RESULT OF THE LOW MOBILITY OF THE CONDENSED ATOMS OR MOLECULES ON THE SUBSTRATE SURFACE. THIS IS PARTICULARLY TRUE FOR COATING OF PLASTICS, WHEN THE SUBSTRATE TEMPERATURE NEEDS TO BE KEPT LOW (AROUND AMBIENT). REACTIVE ION PLATING DEPOSITION (RIPD) IS AN INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUE WHICH DENSIFIES THE GROWING THIN FILM BY ENHANCED SURFACE MOBILITY AS WELL AS BY CONTINUOUS ION BOMBARDMENT, THEREFORE RESULTING IN DURABLE, WELL ADHERING THIN FILMS AT RELATIVELY LOW SUBSTRATE TEMPERATURES. THIS TECHNIQUE WILL BE USED FOR THE FUNDAMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF RIPD AS WELL AS FOR ITS PRODUCTION-ORIENTED APPLICATION. COMPREHENSIVE CHARACTERIZATION OF RIPD COATINGS WILL IMPROVE THE TECHNIQUE FURTHER.