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US0O54O5906A
United States Patent [19] [ii] Patent Number: 5,405,906
Olsen et al. [45] Date of Patent: Apr. 11, 1995
[54] NONLINEAR OPTICAL COMPOSITES OF METAL CLUSTER LADEN POLYMERS
[75] Inventors: Allan W. Olsen, Arlington; Zakya H.
Kafafi, Alexandria, both of Va.
[73] Assignee: The United States of America as
represented by the Secretary of the
Navy, Washington, D.C.
[21] Appl. No.: 53,753
Related U.S. Application Data
[62] Division of Ser. No. 892,914, Jun. 3, 1992, Pat. No. 5,234,758.
[51] Int. Cl.« B32B 5/16
[52] UJS. CI 524/439; 524/440;
524/441; 427/124; 427/125; 428/328; 428/323;
428/330; 428/425.9
[58] Field of Search 524/430, 440, 441;
428/328, 323, 330, 425.9; 427/124, 125
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
4,828,758 5/1989 Gillberg-Laforce 252/852
5,023,139 6/1991 Bimbolm et al 428/402
Primary Examiner—Edward Cain
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Thomas E. McDonnell;
George A. Kap
[57] ABSTRACT
Nonlinear optical composites with large third-order optical response composed of metal clusters uniformly dispersed in polymers are prepared by vapor deposition of a metal onto a cold support while simultaneously cocondensing a vapor of an organic material. Where the organic material is a monomer, it polymerizes either when it comes in contact of the metal and/or when the cold surface is warmed. The unpolymerized monomer is removed to yield a processable composite. When the organic material is a diluent, it deposits as a solid on the cold surface forming a dispersion of the solid metal clusters in the liquid diluent. A polymer solution is then mixed with the dispersion and the composite is formed after removal of the diluent and the solvent for the polymer.
14 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
