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Sol-Gel Multilayers Applied by A Meniscus Coating Process

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 February 2011

Jerald A. Britten
Affiliation:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550
Ian M. Thomas
Affiliation:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550
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Abstract

We describe a meniscus coating method to produce high-laser damage threshold, silica/alumina sol-gel multilayer reflectors on 30+ cm substrates for laser-fusion applications. This process involves forcing a small suspension flow through a porous applicator tube, forming a falling film on the tube. A substrate contacts this film to form a meniscus. Motion of the substrate relative to the applicator entrains a thin film on the substrate, which leaves behind a porous, optical quality film upon solvent evaporation. We develop a solution for the entrained film thickness as a function of geometry, flow and fluid properties by an analysis similar to that of the classical dip-coating problem. This solution is compared with experimental measurements. Also, preliminary results of multilayer coating experiments with a prototype coater are presented, which focus on coating uniformity and laser damage threshold (LDT).

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1992

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References

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