Method for manufacturing optical glasses and coloured glasses at low temperatures

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing optical glasses and coloured glasses with the aid of a fluid phase sintering process from a basic material encompassing at least SiO 2 powder as well as additives for reducing the temperature of the fluid phase sintering and/or melting process encompassing the following steps: the starting materials are dissolved in any sequence in a fluid medium to produce a solution as far as is possible and a suspension to the extent that they are not dispersed in solution; a greenbody is produced from the dissolved and dispersed starting materials; the greenbody is dried the dried greenbody is fluid-phase sintered at temperatures below 1200° C., in particular in the temperature range from 600° C. to 1200° C.

1 - 19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . A glass manufactured in accordance with the following method: 
 providing starting materials comprising SiO 2  and optionally, additives for reducing a sintering or melting temperature of the glass, the starting materials not including silicon alkoxides;    dissolving the starting materials in any sequence in a fluid medium to produce a solution as far as is possible and a suspension to the extent that the starting materials are dispersed in solution;    producing a greenbody from the dissolved and dispersed starting materials;    drying the greenbody; and    fluid-phase sintering the dried greenbody at temperatures below 1200° C., in particular in the temperature range from 600° C. to 1200° C.;    wherein the glass comprises:    30-75 wt. % SiO 2      5-35 wt. % K 2 O    4-17 wt. % B 2 O 3      0-37 wt. % ZnO    0.01-10 wt. % F    
   
   
       21 . A glass in accordance with  claim 20  wherein the glass includes F in the range 0.01-2 wt. %.  
   
   
       22 . A glass in accordance with  claim 20  wherein the glass also or alternatively includes: 
 the oxides of the elements Al, Ti, Zr, P, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ce, La, Na, Li, Rb, Cs, Pb.    
   
   
       23 . A glass manufactured in accordance with the following method: 
 providing starting materials comprising SiO 2  and optionally, additives for reducing a sintering or melting temperature of the glass, the starting materials not including silicon alkoxides;    dissolving the starting materials in any sequence in a fluid medium to produce a solution as far as is possible and a suspension to the extent that the starting materials are dispersed in solution;    producing a greenbody from the dissolved and dispersed starting materials;    drying the greenbody; and    fluid-phase sintering the dried greenbody at temperatures below 1200° C., in particular in the temperature range from 600° C. to 1200° C.;    wherein the glass comprises:    30-75 wt. % SiO 2      5-35 wt. % K 2 O    4-17 wt. % B 2 O 3      0-30 wt. % ZnO    0.01-10 wt. % F    
   
   
       24 . A glass in accordance with  claim 23  wherein the glass also or alternatively includes: 
 the oxides of the elements Al, Ti, Zr, P, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ce, La, Na, Li, Rb, Cs.    
   
   
       25 . A glass in accordance with  claim 24 , including: 
 30-75 wt. % SiO 2      5-35 wt. % K 2 O    4-17 wt. % B 2 O 3      0-30 wt. % ZnO    0.01-10 wt. % F    0-5 wt. % TiO 2      
   
   
       26 . A glass in accordance with  claim 23  wherein the glass is a coloured glass which include an MX semiconductor dopant with M Cd and/or Zn and X S, Se or Te.  
   
   
       27 . A colored glass in accordance with  claim 26  wherein as an option the glass is doped with ionic dyes such as Co, Cu, Ni etc. instead of or in addition to the MX semiconductor dopants.  
   
   
       28 . A colored glass in accordance with  claim 26  wherein the MX semiconductor dopant has 0.2-0.9 wt. % of the optical glass.  
   
   
       29 . An optical sharp cut filter for wavelengths between 350 nm and 850 nm wherein the optical sharp cut filter includes a coloured glass in accordance with  claim 26.