Production of structured polymer layers having nonlinear optical properties

Abstract

Structured polymer layers having nonlinear optical properties are produced by a process wherein either organic compounds containing ethylenically unsaturated groups are subjected to free radical copolymerization (A) with stilbene, azo or azomethine compounds containing ethylenically unsaturated groups and donor and acceptor groups, or organic compounds containing ethylenically unsaturated groups are subjected to free radical polymerization and are mixed (B) with stilbene, azo or azomethine compounds containing ethylenically unsaturated groups and donor and acceptor groups, the copolymers (A) or mixtures (B) thus obtained are exposed imagewise to high-energy radiation, the unexposed parts are removed and the structured polymer layers thus obtained are polarized in an electric field for orientation of the chromophoric structural units in the region of the glass transition temperature of the polymer and crosslinked in an applied electric field. Such structured polymer layers are suitable for the production of polymeric waveguides in communications technology.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.