Substrates and Materials

doi:10.1117/3.242743.ch6

Book: Optical Thin Films: User Handbook

Author(s): James D. Rancourt

Published: 1996

https://doi.org/10.1117/3.242743.ch6

Author Affiliations +

Abstract

The type of substrate upon which a filter is deposited generally determines many of the characteristics of the filter, such as durability, stability, and cost. There are three major categories of substrates: 1. Glasses and similar crystalline materials 2. Organics and plastics 3. Metals Substrates can also be classified as either rigid or flexible. The majority of high-quality optics are fabricated of rigid materials. A large volume of web-coated substrate is produced each year for decorative and other uses. In this chapter, we discuss in more detail the influences the various substrate materials and forms can have on thin film coatings.