Anti-fog coating resists abrasion
A
Fosta-Tek Optics product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Sep 21, 2006
Polymer optics manufacturer Fosta-Tek Optics has developed an innovative anti-fog coating chemistry for polycarbonate lens and eyewear applications.
Polymer optics manufacturer Fosta-Tek Optics has developed an innovative anti-fog coating chemistry for polycarbonate lens and eyewear applications.
Developed in response to new military and European eyewear standards for improved anti-fog and abrasion resistance performance, the new coating will be marketed under the trade name Fosta Fog-Free performance coating.
"The linkage between abrasion resistance and anti-fog is a problem for most anti-fog coatings, which are very soft", said Jim LeBlanc, Vice President of Fosta-Tek.
"Our new Fosta Fog-Free coating acts as a hardcoat and is durable enough to stand up to repeated cleanings with hot water and soap or household detergents".
"It is therefore a more permanent coating technology with a longer useful life in the field, a feature especially important for military eyewear".
The coating was developed in response to new standards established by the Army's PEO Soldier for eyewear and goggles, and European Standard 166 for safety eyewear.
Headquartered at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier designs, develops, procures, fields, and sustains everything US soldiers wear or carry.
The new Army specification calls for "complete resistance to fogging".
The coating must show no more than 6% haze increase when tested for abrasion resistance, and must also demonstrate superior resistance to degradation resulting from contact with DEET ("Bug spray") and bleach.
"Traditional anti-fog coatings consist either of treatments to absorb condensation, which quickly become saturated, or dual purpose coatings based on siloxane and wetting agents which have limited tolerance for water immersion and offer only temporary anti-fog properties", said LeBlanc.
The Fosta Fog-Free coating uses a flexible poly-hardcoat with permanent anti-fog and anti-static properties built in.
Moisture that condenses on the lens surface will sheet out without reducing scratch resistance.
An approved independent test lab has recently certified Fosta Fog-Free coated lenses for a leading US military eyewear manufacturer.
Other pending applications for the Fosta Fog-Free coating include a cluster lens for ATVs and motorcycles, and eyewear for industrial safety and firefighter applications.
"Fosta Fog-Free coating also has some chemical resistance attributes that we believe should make it suitable for PC optics in medical environments", said LeBlanc.
The coating is available as a dip-coating service to customers of Fosta-Tek Optics for optical components manufactured from polycarbonate.
Not what you're looking for? Search the site.
Google Ads
Contact Fosta-Tek Optics
Related Stories
- Laser direct imaging speeds processes
- Whitepaper examines benefits of DMLS
- Camcoat improves efficiency of Le Mans cars
- Precision Micro invests in laser direct imaging
- Smithers issues 'Mixing in Single Screw Extrusion'
Articles by product category
- Consultancy and Services (903)
- Machine Building (4,517)
-
Engineering Design Software (6,179)
- Engineering Design Software (12)
- 2D CAD software (200)
- 3D CAD software (1,157)
- FEA and structural analysis software (369)
- Fluid, thermal, noise, vibration software (334)
- Simulation, modelling, validation software (914)
- Rendering, visualisation, styling software (196)
- Materials design and moulding design software (151)
- Process, instrumentation, automation software (258)
- Electrical design software (164)
- Publishing and documentation software (229)
- Maths, charting, statistics, QA software (317)
- Data, document management software (310)
- CAM, CNC, production management software (568)
- File conversion software, data capture (351)
- PLM and collaboration software (649)
-
Drives, Motors and Controls (3,361)
- Drives, Motors and Controls (1)
- Precision Motors and Gears (411)
- Industrial Drives/Controls (1,276)
- Linear Drives and Motors (114)
- Industrial Motors (497)
- Stepper and Servo Drives, Motors, Controls (1,060)
- Small Mechanical Components, Joining, Tools (1,975)
-
Control and Instrumentation (5,028)
- Plantwide control (1,324)
- Plant- and Machine-Wide Communications (1,174)
- Smaller-Sized PLCs (387)
- CNC and Motion Controllers (184)
- Mid-range and Large PLCs (201)
- Power Supplies, Uninterruptible Power (562)
- HMIs/Operator Interfaces (294)
- Logic Controllers, Timers and Relays (96)
- Cabling, Conduit, Signal Conditioning (806)
-
Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (5,459)
- Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (1)
- Data acquisition Software and Communications (494)
- Data Acquisition Hardware and PC I/O Boards (472)
- Electrical and Electronic Testing, PAT Equipment (630)
- Form/co-ordinate, optical, vision instruments (703)
- Gauges, Indicators and Instruments (440)
- Data loggers (422)
- Materials testing equipment (421)
- Telecomms/network test equipment, software etc (154)
- Testing and Calibration Services and Information (500)
- Testing, analysing and monitoring equipment (1,222)
-
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Design (4,160)
- Batteries, chargers and circuit protection (555)
- Connectors, Terminals, Busbars, Slip Rings (679)
- Enclosures and Equipment Cooling Fans (709)
- Knobs, Handles and Enclosure Hardware (420)
- PCs and Embedded Systems (798)
- Electrical and Electronic Subassemblies (369)
- Electrical and Electronic Components (630)
-
Materials and Processing (2,963)
- Materials and Processing (5)
- Materials and components (2,215)
- Rapid Prototyping (458)
- Materials processing and testing (285)
-
Engineering Industry News, Resources (6,093)
- Engineering Industry News, Resources (4)
- Engineering Business News, Views (388)
- Engineering Exhibitions, Events (562)
- Engineering Conferences (425)
- Engineering Seminars (400)
- Engineering Industry Developments, Awards (633)
- Engineering Guides, Newsletters (349)
- Engineering Recruitment, Employment (219)
- Engineering Training Courses (433)
- Engineering Education, Resources, Standards (838)
- Engineering Industry Reports, Surveys (597)
- Electronic Resources for Engineers (278)
- Health and Safety Legislation (402)
- Health and Safety Strategy, Risk Assessment (113)
- Health and Safety Consultancy, Software (175)
- Health and Safety Events, Training, News (277)
-
Powertrain Design (3,598)
- Powertrain Design (2)
- Bearings (939)
- Chains and belts (326)
- Gears, brakes, couplings and engines (1,441)
- Hydraulic Components (471)
- Lubricants (418)
-
Capital Equipment (3,387)
- Capital Equipment (1)
- Manufacturing Machinery and Plant Equipment (468)
- Production line blowers and fans (62)
- Compressors and Air Treatment (510)
- Electronics Manufacturing, Tools, Instruments (192)
- Electrical hardware (131)
- Machinery and Production Equipment (1,093)
- Robotics, Handling and Storage (930)
-
Sensors (7,080)
- Sensors (8)
- Accelerometers and Vibration Sensors (427)
- Loadcells, Force Sensors, Torque Sensors (699)
- Pressure sensors (621)
- Flowmeters and Flow Sensors (618)
- Level Sensors and Leak Detectors (527)
- Linear Position Sensors (399)
- Rotary Position, Tilt and Angular Sensors (546)
- Proximity Sensors (700)
- Gas, Chemical, Radiation, Magnetic Sensors (284)
- Humidity and Environmental Sensors (152)
- Temperature sensors (612)
- Vision and Colour Sensors (1,384)
- Barcode Sensors (103)
- Valves, Pumps, Process Hardware (3,623)
