Ion beam assisted deposition of a thin film coating on a gradient-index lens array

A new coating method which employs ion bombardment has been developed for a gradient-index (GRIN) rod lens array using silicone rubber and fiber reinforced plastic plates in its construction. The thin film coatings deposited using this method passed the durability tests on the basis of MIL-M-13508C. The adhesion of the thin film coating was strong and durable enough to allow for use on GRIN rod lens arrays in photocopiers. The effect of ion bombardment has been investigated with thin film analysis data by Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy and secondary ion mass spectrometry.