Method of making a graphite-glass composite laser mirror
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsRobert K. Stalcup, Karl M. Prewo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A laser mirror stable at high and low temperatures is described comprising graphite fibers in a glass matrix. The mirror is made by hot pressing a graphite fiber lay-up in a glass matrix in a die having a highly polished mirror replicating surface, the fibers laid up in such a way to produce a central plane of symmetry across the central plane of the composite. In use, the composite requires a separate laser reflecting surface layer. The resulting laser mirror has a low density but no porosity, high elastic stiffness, high strength, high fracture toughness, low thermal expansion, high thermal conductivity and environmental stability.
Claims6
A method of making a laser mirror comprising laying up alternating ply stacks of graphite fibers and particulate glass in a pressing mold having a highly polished mirror replicating surface, said laying being glass-rich against the replicating surface, hot pressing the graphite-glass in the mold to form a laser mirror composite having a mirror surface requiring little or no surface polishing, and applying a laser radiation reflecting layer to the mirror surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.