Experiments using First Contact polymer as a final cleaning step for aluminizing

Gregory Barrick; Marc Baril; Tom Benedict; Philip Jackson; James Hamilton

doi:10.1117/12.787642

23 July 2008 Experiments using First Contact polymer as a final cleaning step for aluminizing

Gregory Barrick, Marc Baril, Tom Benedict, Philip Jackson, James Hamilton

Proceedings Volume 7018, Advanced Optical and Mechanical Technologies in Telescopes and Instrumentation; 70185B (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.787642
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2008, Marseille, France

Abstract

Cleaning mirrors for coating is a very exacting process and for larger mirrors it can be physically demanding. The final step of cleaning and drying the substrate is particularly problematic. Non-contact drying methods, usually with compressed air or nitrogen, can be laborious and can introduce contaminants if the compressed gas used is insufficiently pure. These methods also tend to increase the static charge on the substrate surface, attracting lint. Contact methods tend to add lint or fibers to the cleaned surface. As an alternative, we are experimenting with using the First Contact polymer cleaning solution as the final step in mirror coating preparation. The advantage of this method is that the polymer coating, which will adhere to much of the remaining surface contaminants, may be left on the substrate until just before it is placed into the coating chamber, minimizing the time available for re-contamination. The results of our experiments on small substrates are presented.

Citation Download Citation

Gregory Barrick, Marc Baril, Tom Benedict, Philip Jackson, and James Hamilton "Experiments using First Contact polymer as a final cleaning step for aluminizing", Proc. SPIE 7018, Advanced Optical and Mechanical Technologies in Telescopes and Instrumentation, 70185B (23 July 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.787642

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