Manufacture of composite optical materials

US9561615B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• Cambridge Enterprise Limited · GB
• Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. · DE

Inventors

• Jeremy John Baumberg · Cambridge, GB
• David Robert Evan Snoswell · Cambridge, GB
• Christopher Finlayson · Cambridge, GB
• Qibin Zhao · Cambridge, GB
• Götz Peter Hellmann · Darmstadt, DE
• Peter Spahn · Darmstadt, DE
• Christian Gerhard Schafer · Darmstadt, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 12, 2012
• Grant date: Feb 7, 2017
• Expiry date: Jun 9, 2033

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T428/249921
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A polymer opal material comprises a three dimensionally periodic arrangement of core particles in a matrix material and exhibits structural color via Bragg reflection. IN a process for manufacturing such a material, a sandwich structure is provided, of a precursor composite material held between first and second sandwiching layers. A relative shear strain of at least 10% is imposed on the precursor composite material by curling the sandwich structure around a roller. The shear strain is cycled, in order to promote the formation of the three dimensional periodic arrangement.