Development Status of Precision Molding of Glass Optical Components

doi:10.16552/j.cnki.issn1001-1625.2025.1140

Abstract

Abstract:

To meet the manufacturing requirements of high volume， low cost， and high precision for aspheric optical components in modern optical systems， precision molding forming technology has become an important process route for the rapid fabrication of such optical components. This paper systematically reviews the development status of precision molding forming technology for glass optical components， focuses on elaborating the forming mechanism based on viscoelastic deformation and the corresponding technological process， and analyzes the viscoelastic constitutive models applicable to describing the high-temperature mechanical behavior of glass and their time-temperature equivalence characteristics. Meanwhile， this paper deeply discusses the application of finite element simulation in the optimization of precision molding forming processes， including the simulation analysis of key process parameters such as heating time， forming temperature and forming speed， as well as the prediction and control methods for residual stress， refractive index distribution and surface shrinkage during the cooling process. Finally， this paper prospects for the future development trends of precision molding forming technology in terms of mold materials， simulation modeling and process control.

Key words: aspherical optical component, precision molding, viscoelastic constitutive model, finite element simulation, process optimization, residual stress

CLC Number:

TN213

ZHANG Baodong, ZHAO Hua, LIU Yonghua, HAN Bin, HE Kun, MA Shiyue, HAN Tongyu, CHEN Qian, YANG Xi, CHEN Haoran, ZU Chengkui. Development Status of Precision Molding of Glass Optical Components[J]. BULLETIN OF THE CHINESE CERAMIC SOCIETY, 2026, 45(3): 1062-1073.

Figures/Tables 11

Fig.1 Process of glass precision molding forming［14］

Table 1 Typical recommended viscosity range for molding operations of optical glass

Glass system	Typical type	Molding viscosity/（Pa·s）
Borosilicate glass	P-SK57	10⁸~10¹⁰
Lanthanum-based glass	P-LASF47	10⁷~10⁹
Chalcogenide glass	As₄₀Se₆₀	10⁷~10⁹

Fig.2 Temperature history diagram of three points of glass blank［46］

Fig.3 Equivalent stress distributions under different molding temperatures［47］

Fig.4 Residual stress distribution in aspheric lens at different molding velocities［48］

Table 2 Maximum residual stress at different molding velocities［48］

Molding velocity/（mm·s^-1）	Maximum residual stress/MPa
0.02	0.114 6
0.05	0.157 0
0.08	0.296 7

Fig.5 Global graphs and local enlarged graphs of simulation results under different molding velocities［49］

Fig.6 Variation of internal stress and thermal expansion coefficient at different points of lens with time［55］

Fig.7 Equivalent stress distribution inside molded lens at different stages of cooling process［59］

Fig.8 Refractive index variation distributions of P-SK57 and P-LASF47 glass cylinders cooled at different rates［60］

Fig.9 Principle of mold compensation design［62］

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