Fluid lubricated polishing based on shear thickening

Area of Science:

• Optics and Materials Science
• Advanced Manufacturing Processes

Background:

• Short wavelength optics demand high precision in optical elements, challenging traditional polishing methods.
• Existing techniques struggle with processing efficiency and surface quality for demanding optical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and validate a fluid lubricated polishing method using non-Newtonian fluids.
• To address the limitations of traditional polishing for high-precision optical element fabrication.

Main Methods:

• Developed a fluid lubricated polishing technique combining non-Newtonian fluids with traditional methods.
• Established and experimentally verified the tool influence function based on the Preston equation and shear thickening principles.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated excellent convergence of fluid lubricated polishing for full frequency errors in optical elements.
• Achieved a surface roughness convergence rate approximately twice that of chemical mechanical polishing.
• Extended the applicability of Preston's equation to non-Newtonian fluid polishing.

Conclusions:

• Fluid lubricated polishing offers a superior solution for fabricating high-precision optical elements.
• The method provides enhanced efficiency and surface quality, meeting the demands of short wavelength optics.
• This advancement broadens the scope of polishing theory and practice for advanced optical manufacturing.