Additive Manufacturing of Functionalized Silicone Optics

Abstract

Infusing highly transparent silicone optics with ferromagnetic particles makes these optical elements susceptible to controllable deformations. Lenses made of silicone can thus shift their focal length. This poster presents the results of determining a silicone’s transmittance and refractive index experimentally as well as utilizing multiphysical simulation to explore viable application spaces through focal length shifts. Further, concepts are shown to produce functionalized lenses, where particles are included using additive manufacturing and the curing behavior of the silicone is controlled.