IR optical sensor lenses now micro-molded
Efficient, high-volume molding of the Extem resin can deliver multiple advantages over grinding and polishing of quartz glass and curing of epoxy resin, including speed of manufacture, consistently high quality and the avoidance of costly secondary operations. The Sabic material’s high flow and low shrinkage make it well suited for mass producing small, precise parts. It can withstand the high temperatures of lead-free soldering commonly used in device assembly. Extem resin is available in natural and black, with the black color absorbing visible light but transmitting IR light, which helps increase accuracy for proximity sensing. The resin has a glass transition temperature of 267°C, it can be injection molded into lenses with freeform surfaces, while epoxy has geometric limitations and usually needs a substrate layer. Its high shear thinning properties facilitate mold filling, which is essential for small, high-precision parts. The design freedom and the higher refractive index allow the elimination of 1 or 2 layers in an advanced lens design compared to an epoxy solution, claims Sabic.
Sabic – www.sabic.com
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