Method of mirror coating an optical article and article thereby obtained
A method and system for manufacturing an optical article is provided. The method may comprise providing at least one ophthalmic lens substrate having a surface; applying at least one conductive coating on at least a portion the ophthalmic lens substrate; and electroplating the ophthalmic lens substrate to form a plating layer that is in a contacting relationship with the conductive coating of the optical article. Other layers may also be applied.
1. A method for manufacturing an optical article, the method comprising:
providing at least one ophthalmic lens substrate having a surface;
applying at least one SiO 2 layer on the surface of the at least one ophthalmic lens substrate;
applying at least one strike layer on the SiO 2 layer of the at least one ophthalmic lens substrate, the at least one strike layer being a conductive transparent material that is compatible with and configured to adhere to the at least one ophthalmic lens substrate; and
electroplating the ophthalmic lens substrate to form a plating layer that is in a contacting relationship with the conductive transparent material, the plating layer being compatible with and configured to adhere to the strike layer.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the strike layer is applied onto the surface of the ophthalmic lens substrate by any one of the group comprising: physical vapor deposition (PVD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), sputtering, dip coating, and spin coating.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising immersing the at least one ophthalmic lens substrate into an immersion bath.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one ophthalmic lens substrate functions as a cathode.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one ophthalmic lens substrate functions as an anode.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electroplating is selected from at least one of the methods of the group comprising: electroless deposition, pulse electroplating, and brush coating deposition.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising one or more of the following steps before applying the at least one SiO 2 layer:
de-greasing the lens substrate;
pre-etching the lens substrate;
etching the lens substrate; and
rinsing the lens substrate.
8. The method of claim 1 , the method comprising one or more of the following steps after applying the conductive coating:
etching the lens substrate;
anodizing the lens substrate;
tinting the lens substrate;
sealing the lens substrate;
electropolishing the lens substrate; and
applying a coating to the lens substrate.