Transparent and colorless hardcoating films for optical materials with a tunable index of refraction and scratch resistance, as formed from anodic aluminum films

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of processing of materials using a moving interface, the method comprising: providing a working material, the working material comprising a substrate with a metallic film on at least one side of the substrate; providing an energy source adjacent to the working material, where the energy source is electrical current between a cathode and the working material as an anode; providing for relative controlled movement between the working material and the energy source, where the relative controlled movement is a motor attached to the working material via a linkage; activating the energy source such that the energy processes the working material; moving the energy source and/or the working material relative to the other to control the amount of processing of the working material achieved by the energy, where the processing of the working material is anodization; immersing the working material at a controlled speed into an anodizing bath equipped with a cathode; starting anodization of the metallic film at the edge of the metallic film furthest from the anode connection and just below the anodization bath, and immersing the working material into the bath such that the anodization is moved up the metallic film towards the edge nearest the anode connection, resulting in a complete conversion to oxide, except for a non-anodized small metal or conductive edge where the anode voltage is connected to the workpiece.