AU2005200563B2 - Optical member, process of producing optical member, and process of producing thin film - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 DIVISIONAL APPLICATION NAME OF APPLICANTS: HOYA CORPORATION ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Attorneys 1 Nicholson Street Melbourne, 3000.

INVENTION TITLE: "Optical member, process of producing optical member, and process of producing thin film" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: Q.\OPER\MKR\GENERAL\2003200951 -div file.do 9/2/05 P:AOPER\MKR\SPECI200320095 I-div.doc-09i2/05 -1- OPTICAL MEMBER, PROCESS OF PRODUCING OPTICAL MEMBER, AND PROCESS OF PRODUCING THIN FILM This is a divisional of Australian patent application No.

2003200951, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0001] [Technical Field to which the Invention Belongs] The present invention relates to an optical member having a water-repellent thin film having excellent durability and to a process of producing an optical member.

[0002] [Background of the Invention] Antireflection films provided on optical members such as lenses are generally formed from an inorganic oxide such as ZrO 2 and SiO 2 For this reason, stains by perspiration or fingerprints are liable to attach thereto, and it is difficult to remove these stains. In order to solve such a problem, it is well known to provide a water-repellent film on the antireflection film.

In recent years, it has been desired that the waterrepellent performance of such a water-repellent film is maintained as far as possible over the course of time. As a method of obtaining this performance, JP-A-5-215905 discloses a method in which an organosilicon compound is subjected to heat vapor deposition in vacuum to form a water-repellent film on an antireflection film.

However, if the method disclosed in JP-A-5-215905 is employed, the difference in the stationary contact angle to water before and after promotion processing of the durability, as described in paragraph [0031], is from 100 to 130. Thus, there is a demand for a further improvement in the performance.

P OPER\MKRWSPCIX52W5613lIspi i dc-2KiM/2(X7 -2- [0003] [Problems that the Invention is to Solve] A preferred object of the invention is to provide an optical member exhibiting improved long term performance characteristics and a process of producing an optical member.

[0004] [Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve or at least to some extent ameliorate the above-described problems, the present inventors made extensive and intensive investigations. As a result, it has been found that the preferred object may be achieved by the following means, leading to accomplishment of the invention.

Specifically, it has been found that the preferred object of the invention is achieved by an optical member comprising a substrate and an antireflection film on the substrate, wherein the layer of the antireflection film, which is the outermost layer with respect to the substrate, is a layer containing, as a major component, silicon dioxide deposited by vapor deposition, and a fluorine-containing water-repellent layer is further externally provided on the outermost layer of the antireflection film, and the optical member has the characteristics that the initial stationary contact angle (stationary contact angle before rubbing) to water of the water-repellent layer is 1040 or more and that when a chamois skin is dipped in water at 0 C for 5 minutes, and the surface of the water-repellent layer is then rubbed 10,000 times by the chamois skin while applying a load of 500 g, the stationary contact angle (stationary contact angle after rubbing) to water is from 2

I

P \OPERMK\SPECIl\UI)(X525612 pa -dinmts do- 280,12(W -3to 100 smaller than the stationary contact angle before rubbing. The present invention furthermore relates to a process suitable for producing such an optical member which comprises heating a fluorine-substituted alkyl groupcontaining organosilicon compound diluted with a solvent in vacuum and depositing a thin film on a substrate having coated thereon an antireflection film, by heating the organosilicon compound, wherein a heating temperature of the organosilicon compound is in the range of from the evaporation initiation temperature of the organosilicon compound to the decomposition temperature of the organosilicon compound, and the time from the initiation of heating of the organosilicon compound (which includes the phase of increasing the temperature to the evaporation initiation temperature) to the completion of heat evaporation is no more than 90 seconds, leading to accomplishment of the invention.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a process of producing a thin film comprising heating a solution containing a fluorinesubstituted alkyl group-containing organosilicon compound diluted with a solvent in vacuum and depositing a thin film on a substrate in vacuum by heating the solution, wherein the temperature of the solution is in the range of from an evaporation initiation temperature of the organosilicon compound to a decomposition temperature of the organosilicon compound; and wherein the temperature of the solution does not exceed the decomposition temperature after the initiation of evaporation of the organosilicon compound until the completion of vapor deposition; and the heat P OPER\ Kd\SPECIIX52X55 h1 I dm= d1 2KIKAP.X)7 -3Aevaporation of the organosilicon compound is completed within 90 seconds after the initiation of heating of the organosilicon compound.

[0005] [Description of the Figure] Figure 1 shows a schematic drawing of the device that can be used for measuring the long term durability characteristics according to the feature of the appended claim 1.

[Mode for Carrying Out the Invention] The invention will be described below in detail.

The optical member according to the invention is an optical member having a substrate and an antireflection film on the substrate, which is characterized in that the layer of the antireflection film, which is the outermost layer with respect to the substrate is a layer containing, as a major component, silicon dioxide deposited by vapor deposition and that a fluorine-containing water-repellent layer is further externally provided on the outermost layer.

The expression 'major component' indicates a content of at least 50% by weight of silicon dioxide in the respective layer, preferably a content of at least 70% by weight. The fluorine-containing water-repellent layer is obtainable from a water-repellent composition that can be subjected to heat vapor deposition. Suitable water-repellent compositions are disclosed in JP-A-61-130902, JP-A-58-172246, JP-A-58-122979, JP-A-58-172242, JP-A-60-40254, JP-A-50-6615, JP-A-60-221470, P:\OPER\MKR\SPECI\2003200951-div.doc-09/2/05 -4- JP-A-62-148902, JP-A-9-157582, JP-A-9-202648, and JP-A-9- 263728.

It is preferred that the water-repellent layer is formed from fluorine-substituted alkyl group-containing organosilicon compound as a raw material. Of the fluorinesubstituted alkyl group-containing organosilicon compounds the compound represented by the following general formula is particularly preferred: x Rf- (OCF2CF2CF2) m-0 (CF2) 2- CH2C H

(I)

(CH2)n-Si-(R1)3 wherein Rf represents a linear perfluoroalkyl group having from 1 to 16 carbon atoms; X represents hydrogen or a lower alkyl group having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms; R1 represents a hydrolyzable group; m represents a number ranging from 1 to n represents a number ranging from 0 to 2; and 2 represents a number ranging from 1 to Examples of the hydrolyzable group represented by R1 include an amino group, an alkoxy group which preferably contains 1 to 2 carbon atoms in its alkyl moiety, and a chlorine atom.

From the standpoint of obtaining a good thin film, the fluorine-substituted alkyl group-containing organosilicon compound preferably has a weight-average molecular weight of from 3,500 to 6,500 g/mol.

[0006] A compound represented by the following unit formula (II) may also be suitably used as the fluorine-substituted alkyl group-containing organosilicon compound CqF 2 q+iCH 2

CH

2 Si (NH 2 3

(II)

P:\OPER\MKR\SPECI\2003200951- iv.doc-09/02/05 wherein q represents an integer of 1 or more. Preferably, q ranges from 6 to 10. From the standpoint of obtaining particularly good physical properties, such a compound preferably has a weight-average average molecular weight of from 300 to 700 g/mol.

Specific examples include n-CF 3

CH

2

CH

2 Si(NH 2 3 n-trifluoro(1,1,2,2-tetrahydro)propylsilazane; n-C3FCH 2

CH

2 Si(NH 2 3 n-heptafluoro(1,1,2,2-tetrahydro)pentylsilazane; n-C 4

F

9

CH

2

CH

2 Si(NH 2 3 n-nonafluoro(l,1,2,2-tetrahydro)hexylsilazane; n-C, 6

F

1

CH

2

CH

2 Si(NH 2 3 n-tridecafluoro(1,1,2,2-tetrahydro) octylsilazane; and n-CF 1

,CH

2

CH

2 Si(NH 2 3 nheptadecafluoro(1,1,2,2-tetrahydro)decylsilazane.

Incidentally, examples of preferred commercially available water-repellent processing agents include KP-801 (a trade name manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.),X-71-130 (a trade name manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) and OPTOOL DSX (a trade name manufactured by Daikin Industries, Ltd.).

[0007] In the optical member according to the invention, the initial stationary contact angle (stationary contact angle before rubbing) to water of the water-repellent layer is 1040 or more, preferably in the range of from 104° to 1200 in order to achieve a good water repellent performance.

The optical member according to the invention furthermore has a performance such that when a chamois skin is dipped in water at 25 0 C for 5 minutes, and the surface of the water-repellent layer is then rubbed 10,000 times in a forward and backward movement by the chamois skin while applying a load of 500 g, the stationary contact angle (stationary contact angle after rubbing) to water is from 0 to 100 smaller than the stationary contact angle to water before rubbing in order to ensure good durability. A suitable device for carrying out the rubbing experiment is shown in Fig. 1. From the standpoint of durability, the degree of reduction in the stationary contact angle is P:\OPER\MKR\SPEC200320095 I-div.doc-09/02/05 -6preferably from 0 to 80, more preferably from 0 to further preferably from 1 to 40, and most preferably from 2 to Moreover, in the optical member according to the invention, it is preferred that the luminous reflectance of the optical member is substantially identical with the luminous reflectance of a similar optical member, but without the water-repellent layer. The expression 'substantially identical' as used in the context this patent application indicates a variation of preferably This ensures that the water-repellent layer does not lower the performance of the optical member.

[0008] The thickness of the fluorine-containing waterrepellent layer varies basically depending upon the evaporation amount of the fluorine-substituted alkyl groupcontaining organosilicon compound. Accordingly, when the thickness of the thin film is to be controlled in an angstrom order, it is preferred to use a solution of the fluorine-substituted alkyl group-containing organosilicon compound diluted with a solvent. As the solvent are enumerated fluorine-based solvents such as m-xylene hexafluoride, perfluorohexane, and hydrofluoroethers such as methyl octafluorbutyl ether, methyl nonafluorbutyl ether, methyl decafluorbutyl ether.

Further, the concentration of the fluorine-substituted alkyl group-containing organosilicon compound in the solution is not particularly limited so far as the desired object is attained. It can be properly determined on the basis of the common general knowledge of the person skilled in the art, taking into consideration the kind of the fluorine-substituted alkyl group-containing organosilicon compound and the desired film thickness of the thin film.

In the invention, in order to enhance the slipperiness of the surface, it is preferred to mix a silicon-free perfluoropolyether with the fluorine-substituted alkyl P:\OPER\MKR\SPECIU00320095 div.doc-09/2/05 -7group-containing organosilicon compound. As the siliconfree perfluoropolyether, those having a varied structure can be used. In the present invention, preferred perfluoropolyethers may comprise a unit represented by the following general formula (III):

(III)

wherein R represents a perfluoroalkylene group having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms. The above perfluoropolyether preferably has an average molecular weight of from 1,000 to 10,000 g/mol, and particularly preferably from 2,000 to 10,000 g/mol. Specific examples of R include CF2, CF 2

CF

2

CF

2

CF

2

CF

2 and CF(CF 3

)CF

2 These perfluoropolyethers (hereinafter referred to as 'PFPE') are liquid at a normal temperature and are generally called a fluorocarbon oil.

Examples of PFPE that can be used in the invention include trade names DEMNUM Series (S-20 (average molecular weight: 2,700 g/mol), S-65 (average molecular weight: 4,500 g/mol), and S-100 (average molecular weight: 5,600 g/mol)) manufactured by Daikin Industries, Ltd., trade names BARRIERTA Series manufactured by NOK Kluber Co., Ltd., trade names FOMBLIN Series manufactured by Asahi Glass Co., Ltd., trade names KRYTOX Series manufactured by E.I. du Pont de Nemous Company, and a trade name MOLYKOTE HF-30 oil manufactured by Dow Corning Corp.

In the present invention, it is preferred that the two components, namely the fluorine-substituted alkyl groupcontaining organosilicon compound and the silicon-free perfluoropolyether, are mixed, and using a raw material comprising these compounds as the major components, a waterrepellent layer is provided. Preferably, the weight ratio of the silicon-free perfluoropolyether to the fluorinesubstituted alkyl group-containing organosilicon compound in the solution that is used for forming the water-repellent layer is in the range of from 0.01:1 to 100:1.

P:\OPER\MKR\SPEC\2003200951 -div.doc-09/02/05 -8- [0009] The raw material composition comprising the fluorinesubstituted alkyl group-containing organosilicon compound, and optionally a solvent and a silicon-free perfluoropolyether, may be charged in a vessel and heated as it stands. However, from the standpoint of obtaining many uniform vapor deposited films, it is more preferred to impregnate it in a porous material. As the porous material are preferably used sintered filters prepared by sintering a powdered metal having high heat conductivity, such as copper and stainless steel.

Further, from the standpoint of obtaining a proper vapor deposition rate, the porous material suitably has a mesh size of from 40 to 200 microns, and preferably from to 120 microns.

[0010] In the present invention, the fluorine-substituted alkyl group-containing organosilicon compound is vapor deposited on a substrate having coated thereon an antireflection film, by heat vapor deposition. It is preferred that the vapor deposition is carried out by heating raw material in a vacuum. The degree of vacuum within the vacuum vapor deposition unit is not particularly limited. However, from the standpoint of obtaining a uniform water-repellent film, it is preferably from 1.33 x 1 Pa to 1.33 x 106 Pa (10 3 to 10 8 Torr), and more preferably from 6.66 x 10 1 Pa to 8.0 x 10 4 Pa (5.0 x 10- 3 to x 10- 6 Torr).

The temperature to be used for heating the fluorinesubstituted alkyl group-containing organosilicon compound varies, depending on the kind of the organosilicon compound and on the vacuum condition used for vapor deposition. The heating temperature of the organosilicon compound is in the range of the vapor deposition initiation temperature of the organosilicon compound or higher but not exceeding the decomposition temperature of the organosilicon compound in P:\OPERMKR\SPECIU00320095 I-div.doc-O9/02o -9the desired degree of vacuum. The vapor deposition initiation temperature is defined as the temperature at which the vapor pressure of the solution containing the organosilicon compound is equal to the applied vacuum. The decomposition temperature of the organosilicon compound is the temperature at which 50% of a specified amount of the organosilicon compound decomposes within a period of time of Iminute (under nitrogen and in the absence of any reactive compounds) [0011] With respect to the vapor deposition rate, under the condition for keeping the heating temperature within the foregoing range, it is preferred that a time from the initiation of heating of the organosilicon compound to the completion of vapor deposition is within 90 seconds.

Shorter heating times such as within 50 seconds, within seconds, within 30 seconds, within 20 seconds, and within seconds are more preferable. Especially preferably, the heating time is within 5 seconds. The minimum heating time is not particularly limited. Typically, it is within seconds seconds. By completing the vapor deposition within the above-specified temperature range and for a short period of time, giving a high energy to the organosilicon compound for a short period of time, it is possible to provide an optical member with a water-repellent film exhibiting an excellent durability. Further, even when a water-repellent agent composed of two components having a different vapor deposition initiation temperature is used, it is possible to undergo the vapor deposition substantially simultaneously and to obtain a uniform film if a heating temperature is chosen which preferably ranges from the higher vapor deposition initiation temperature of the two compounds to the lower decomposition temperature of the two compounds.

P:\OPER\MKR\SPEC20032lO951 -div.do-09/2i05 [0012] The above-specified vapor deposition rate is preferably attained by means of a method in which electron beams are irradiated to the organosilicon compound. In a method of emitting electron beams, an electron gun that is conventionally employed in a vapor deposition unit can be used. By using the electron gun, it is possible to irradiate a uniform energy to the whole of the organosilicon compound, whereby it becomes easy to provide a uniform water-repellent film.

The power of the electron gun varies depending upon the substances to be used, the vapor deposition unit, the degree of vacuum, and the irradiation area. In the present invention, it is preferred that the accelerating voltage is approximately 6 kV, and the application current is from about 5 to 80 mA.

When the optical member is produced by the above method, there are obtained characteristics such that the initial stationary contact angle (stationary contact angle before rubbing) to water is 1040 or more and that when a chamois skin is dipped in water at 25 0 C for 5 minutes, and the surface of the water-repellent layer is then rubbed 10,000 times by the chamois skin while applying a load of 500 g, the stationary contact angle (stationary contact angle after rubbing) is from about 0 to 100, preferably from 0 to 50 smaller than the stationary contact angle before rubbing. Thus, as compared to the conventional method, an optical member having a water-repellent layer with a high durability can be provided.

In addition, according to this method, the film thickness of the water-repellent film can be controlled, and the luminous reflectance as well as the luminous transmittance of the optical member can be made substantially identical to the luminous reflectance and the luminous transmittance of a similar optical member that does not comprise the water-repellent layer. The luminous P:\OPER\MKR\SPECI\23200951-div.doc-9/02/05 -11transmittance is measured according to the International Standard 8980-3 published in 1999 by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Case postale 56, CH- 1211 Geneva 20, www.iso.ch, and the the luminous reflectance is determined according to the standard ISO 8980-4, published by ISO in 2000.

Incidentally, as the chamois skin is useful grade A or B as defined in KK-C-300C according to the Federal Specifications and Standards of as published by the U.S. Government Printing Office, document Nos. 1963- 653355/340, 1969 0-395-523 (4077) and 1972 0-482-195 (3363).

Further, the optical member as referred to in the invention means an optical member in the broad sense inclusive of not only spectacle lenses but also camera lenses, optical filters annexed to displays to word processor and automobile window shields.

[0013] Examples of the optical substrate that is used in the invention include plastic-made optical substrates such as substrates formed from methyl methacrylate homopolymers, copolymers made of monomer components comprising methyl methacrylate and at least one other monomer, diethylene glycol bisallyl carbonate homopolymers, copolymers made of monomer components comprising diethylene glycol bisallyl carbonate and at least one other monomer, sulfur-containing copolymers, halogen-containing copolymers, polycarbonates, polystyrenes, polyvinyl chlorides, unsaturated polyesters, polyethylene terephthalates, and polyurethanes, and inorganic glass-made optical substrates. Incidentally, the substrate may be a substrate having a hardcoat layer provided thereon. As the hardcoat layer are enumerated cured films containing an organosilicon compound, an acrylic compound, or the like.

[0014] Further, the antireflection film (vapor deposited film) as referred to herein means a single or multilayered film P:\OPER\MKR\SPEC2003200951 I-div.doc-09/0205 -12- (with the proviso that an SiO 2 film be provided as an outermost layer), formed from, for example, ZrO 2 SiO 2 TiO 2 Ta 2 0 5

Y

2 0 3 MgF 2 or A1 2 0 3 or a colored film of, for example, CrO 2 (with the proviso that an SiO 2 film be provided as an outermost layer), which is provided for the purpose of reducing the reflection of the surface of an optical substrate of, for example, a lens. In the present invention, a layer containing silicon dioxide as the major component is used as the outermost layer of the antireflection film. This layer may either be a layer consisting substantially of silicon dioxide, or a hybrid layer comprising silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide and an organic compound.

[0015] [Examples] The invention will be specifically described below with reference to the Examples, but it should not be construed that the invention, the scope of which being defined by the appended claims, is limited thereto.

1. Preparation of antireflection film-provided plastic lens: Using a diethylene glycol bisallyl carbonate polymerbased lens (HI-LUX, a trade name manufactured by Hoya Corporation, refractive index: 1.499, diopter: 0.00) as a plastic lens, a cured film as disclosed in JP-A-63-10640 was provided on the plastic lens substrate. Concretely, parts by weight of 0.5N hydrochloric acid and 20 parts by weight of acetic acid were added to 240 parts by weight of colloidal silica having an SiO 2 concentration of 40 by weight (SNOWTEX 40, Trade Name,a water dispersion of silica manufactured by Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd.) to prepare a solution, to which was then added dropwise to 95 parts by weight of y-glycidoxypropyl trimethoxysilane (trifunctional organosilicon compound) with stirring at 35 0 C. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 8 hours and then allowed to stand at room temperature for 16 hours. To this hydrolysis solution were added 80 parts by weight of methyl P:\OPER\MKR\SPECIU20320095 I-divdoc-09/02/05 -13cellosolve, 120 parts by weight of isopropyl alcohol, parts by weight of butyl alcohol, 16 parts by weight of aluminum acetylacetone, 0.2 parts by weight of a siliconebased surfactant (trade name :"NUC SILWET Y-7006" produced by Nippon Unica Company), and 0.1 parts by weight of a UV absorber (trade name:"Tinuvin P" available from Ciba-Geigy).

The mixture was stirred for 8 hours and then aged at room temperature for 24 hours to obtain a coating composition.

The composition was coated at a lifting rate of 15 cm/min by the dipping method, allowed to stand at room temperature for minutes, and then heat cured at 120 0 C for 2 hours to provide a cured film.

Next, an undercoat layer [refractive index: 1.46, film thickness: 0.5 k (X 550 nm)] comprising silicon dioxide was formed on the cured film by the vacuum vapor deposition method (degree of vacuum: 2.67 x 10" 3 Pa (2 x 10- 5 Torr)). On the undercoat layer was formed a first layer [refractive index: 1.70, film thickness: 0.24 k] that is a three-layer equivalent film comprising a layer (film thickness: 0.06 k) made of titanium dioxide obtained by the ion beam assisted deposition method, a layer (film thickness: 0.12 made of silicon dioxide obtained by the vacuum vapor deposition method, and a layer (film thickness: 0.06 k) made of titanium dioxide obtained by the ion beam assisted deposition method. On the first layer was formed a second layer (refractive index: 2.40, film thickness: 0.5 X) made of titanium dioxide obtained by the ion beam assisted deposition method, and on the second layer was formed a third layer (refractive index: 1.46, film thickness: 0.25 k) made of silicon dioxide obtained by the vacuum vapor deposition method (degree of vacuum: 2.67 x 10- 3 Pa (2 x 10 Torr)). There was thus obtained an antireflection filmprovided plastic lens. This lens had a luminous reflectance of 0.4

I

P:\OPER\MKR\SPECI\200320095 -div.doc-09/A2/05 -14- [0016] 2. Water-repellent agents as used: Water-repellent processing agent 1: OPTOOL DSX (a trade name manufactured by Daikin Industries, Ltd.) that is a fluorine-substituted alkyl group-containing organosilicon compound was used as waterrepellent processing agent 1.

Water-repellent processing agent 2: A solution of a fluorine-containing organosilicon compound (average molecular weight: about 5,000 g/mol) represented by a unit formula, C 3 F- (OCF 2

CF

2

CF

2 24

-O(CF

2 2

[CH

2 CH(Si-(OCH 3 3 1 0 as diluted with 3 by weight of perfluorohexane, was used as water-repellent processing agent 2.

Water-repellent processing agent 3: A solution of a fluorine-containing organosilicon compound (average molecular weight: about 2,000 g/mol) represented by a unit formula, C 3 F- (OCF 2

CF

2

CF

2 6

-O(CF

2 2

[CH

2 CH(Si-(OCH 3 1 0 as diluted with 3 by weight of perfluorohexane, was used as water-repellent processing agent 3.

Water-repellent processing agent 4: A solution (KP-801, a trade name manufactured by Shin- Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) of a fluorine-containing organosilicon compound represented by a unit formula,

CF

1

,CH

2

CH

2 Si(NH 2 3 as diluted with 3 by weight of m-xylene hexachloride, was used as water-repellent processing agent 4.

Water-repellent processing agent A mixture of OPTOOL DSX (a trade name manufactured by Daikin Industries, Ltd.) as the fluorine-substituted alkyl group-containing organosilicon compound and a silicon-free perfluoropolyether (a trade name: DEMNUM Series S-100, manufactured by Daikin Industries, Ltd., average molecular weight: 5,600 g/mol) was used as water-repellent processing agent P:\OPER\MKR\SPECI\20032951 div.dioc-09/0205 Water-repellent processing agent 6: X-71-130 (a trade name manufactured by Daikin Industries, Ltd.) as the fluorine-substituted alkyl groupcontaining organosilicon compound was used as waterrepellent processing agent 6.

Water-repellent processing agent 7: A mixture of X-71-130 (a trade name manufactured by Daikin Industries, Ltd.) as the fluorine-substituted alkyl group-containing organosilicon compound and a silicon-free perfluoropolyether (a trade name: DEMNUM Series manufactured by Daikin Industries, Ltd., average molecular weight: 2,700 g/mol) was used as water-repellent processing agent 7.

[0017] 3. Evaluation of physical properties: The plastic lenses obtained in the Examples and Comparative Examples were evaluated for physical properties in the following evaluation methods.

Stationary contact angle to water Using a contact angle meter (CA-D Model, manufactured by Kyowa Interface Science Co., Ltd., Japan), a drop of water having a diameter of 2 mm was prepared at the tip of a needle at 25 0 C and brought into contact with an uppermost portion of the convex surface of the lens to prepare a droplet. At this time, an angle between the droplet and the surface as generated was measured as the stationary contact angle by determining the radius r of the base of the droplet the radius of the surface of the lens that is in contact with the droplet) and the height h of the droplet, and by calculating the contact angle 0 according to the following equation: 0 2 x tan- 1 (h/r) wherein the measurement is carried out within 10 seconds after placing the droplet on the lens in order to minimise errors caused by evaporation of the water.

P:\OPER.KR\SPECI1\2003 20095 -div doc-09/02)/05 -16- Appearance: It was visually examined whether or not mottle of the interference color and change of the interference color appeared, thereby evaluating whether or not the plastic lens had an appearance useful as a spectacle lens.

Durability: A chamois skin was dipped in water at 25 0 C for 5 minutes and then taken out into air. After one minute of keeping the chamois skin under air (25 0 C, 50 to 60% humidity), this chamois skin was used to rub the surface of the plastic lens having a water-repellent film 5,000 times and 10,000 times in a forward and backward movement while applying a load of 500 g (in air of 250C, 50 to 60% humidity), and a stationary contact angle of the resulting lens to water was measured in the same manner as described in above. 65 minutes were spent during rubbing 5,000 times and 130 minutes were spend during rubbing 10,000 times. Incidentally, as the chamois skin was used grade B as defined in KK-C-300C according to the Federal Specifications and Standards of U.S.A. and the chamois skin, which was produced by Kubota-Shikawaga Corp.

was used. Fig 1 shows a drawing of an apparatus which was used in durability test.

Luminous reflectance (one surface): A luminous reflectance was measured by using an autographic spectrophotometer, U-3410 Model manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd.

[0018] Example 1: A stainless steel-made sintered filter (pore size: from 80 to 100 rim, diameter 18 mm thickness 3 mm) having 0.15 mL of the water-repellent processing agent 1 immersed therein was set inside a vacuum vapor deposition unit, and the whole of the sintered filter was heated by using an electron gun under the following condition, to form a water-repellent film on the antireflection film-provided plastic lens.

P:\OPER\MKRSPECI\2O32(X0095 I-div.doc-9/02/O5 -17- Degree of vacuum: from 3.1 x 10 4 Pa to 8 x 10 4 Pa (2.3 x 6 to 6.0 x 10 6 Torr) Electron gun settings: Accelerating voltage: 6 kV, application current: 40 mA, irradiation area: 3.5 x 3.5 cm 2 vapor deposition time: seconds [0019] Examples 2 to Water-repellent films were formed in the same manner as in Example 1 under the conditions set forth in Table 1. In Examples 2 to 4, the water-repellent agent as used in Example 1 was changed; and in Examples 5 to 10, the same water-repellent agent as in Example 1 was used, and the vapor deposition time was changed. The evaluation results are shown in Table 2.

Examples 11 to 13: By using the fluorine-substituted alkyl groupcontaining organosilicon compound or a mixed liquid of the fluorine-substituted alkyl group-containing organosilicon compound and the silicon-free perfluoropolyether as the raw material, water-repellent films were formed under the conditions set forth in Table 1 and evaluated. The amounts of the liquids as used are shown in Table I, and the evaluation results are shown in Table 2.

Further, Table 3 shows the results obtained by measuring the lenses obtained in Examples 10 to 13 in terms of coefficient of dynamic friction three times by using a continuous loading type surface property tester, TYPE: 22H, manufactured by Shinto Scientific Co., Ltd.

[0020] Comparative Example 1: A water-repellent film was formed in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the stainless steel-made sintered filter having the water-repellent processing agent immersed therein was heated by using a halogen heater and that the P:\OPER\MKR\SPECI2003200951 -di.doc-09/02/05 -18vapor deposition time was changed to 360 seconds. The results are shown in Table 2.

[0021] Comparative Example 2: A water-repellent film was formed in the same manner as in Comparative Example 1, except that the water-repellent processing agent and the liquid amount of the waterrepellent agent as set forth in Table 1 were employed and that the vapor deposition time was changed to 300 seconds.

The results are shown in Table 2. From the experimental results of these Comparative Examples, it can be understood that as shown in Table 2, the durability of the waterrepellent films is inferior to that of the water-repellent films of the Examples.

1 P:\OPER\MKR\SPECIU2003200951 -div.doc-09/0205 -19- [0022] Table 1 Vapor Heating source as deposition Vapor deposition Amount of waterused (mA) time material repellent agent Example 1 Electron gun (40) 5 Water-repellent agent 1 0.15 mL

(DSX)

Example 2 Electron gun (40) 10 Water-repellent agent 2 0.75 mL Example 3 Electron gun (40) 10 Water-repellent agent 3 0.75 mL Example 4 Electron gun (40) 10 Water-repellent agent 4 0.20 mL (KP-801) Example 5 Electron gun (40) 10 Water-repellent agent 1 0.15 mL

(DSX)

Example 6 Electron gun (40) 15 Water-repellent agent 1 0.15 mL

(DSX)

Example 7 Electron gun (40) 20 Water-repellent agent 1 0.15 mL

(DSX)

Example 8 Electron gun (40) 30 Water-repellent agent 1 0.15 mL

(DSX)

Example 9 Electron gun (40) 60 Water-repellent agent 1 0.15 mL

(DSX)

Example 10 Electron gun (40) 80 Water-repellent agent 1 0.15 mL

(DSX)

Example 11 Electron gun (35) 60 Water-repellent agent 5 0.15 mL (DSX) (DSX S-100) 0.025 mL (S-100) Example 12 Electron gun (35) 60 Water-repellent agent 6 0.20 mL (X-71-130) Example 13 Electron gun (35) 60 Water-repellent agent 7 0.20 mL (X-71- (X-71-130 S-20) 130) 0.05 mL Comparative Halogen heater 360 Water-repellent agent 1 0.15 mL Example 1 (DSX) Comparative Halogen heater 300 Water-repellent agent 4 0.20 mL Example 2 (KP-801) (Note) The vapor deposition time specifies the period of time from the initiation of heating to the completion of vapor deposition.

Degree of vacuum: from 3.1 x 10- 4 Pa to 8 x 10 4 Pa (2.3 x 10- 6 to 6.0 x 10- 6 Torr) Accelerating voltage: 6 kV I t P:\OPER\MKR\SPEC20032X)951 -div.doc)09/02/05 [0023] Table 2 Luminous reflectance Durability (contact angle) Before the After the 0 time 5,000 times 10,000 Appearance formation formation times Example 1 0.4 0.4 112 110 109 Good Example 2 0.4 0.4 110 106 105 Good Example 3 0.4 0.4 110 105 104 Good Example 4 0.4 0.4 111 105 102 Good Example 5 0.4 0.4 113 111 109 Good Example 6 0.4 0.4 113 112 111 Good Example 7 0.4 0.4 112 110 109 Good Example 8 0.4 0.4 111 109 107 Good Example 9 0.4 0.4 112 110 108 Good Example 10 0.4 0.4 109 108 107 Good Example 11 0.4 0.4 113 110 109 Good Example 12 0.4 0.4 108 107 107 Good Example 13 0.4 0.4 111 110 110 Good Comparative 0.4 0.4 105 94 90 Good Example 1 Comparative 0.4 0.4 112 96 91 Good Example 2 Table 3 Coefficient of dynamic friction First time Second time Third time Example 10 0.2209 0.2341 0.2195 Example 11 0.1973 0.2007 0.1902 Example 12 0.1374 0.1350 0.1473 Example 13 0.1159 0.1154 0.1140 [0024] [Advantage of the Invention] As described above in detail, the optical member according to the invention has a high durability characteristic, and according to the production process according to the invention, it is possible to produce an optical member having a high durability characteristic.

I A P:\OPER\MKR\SPECI\2003200951 -divdoc-0902/05 -21- Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

Claims (4)

1. A process of producing a thin film comprising heating a solution containing a fluorine-substituted alkyl group-containing organosilicon compound diluted with a solvent in vacuum and depositing a thin film on a substrate in vacuum by heating the solution, wherein the temperature of the solution is in the range of from an evaporation initiation temperature of the organosilicon compound to a decomposition temperature of the organosilicon compound; and wherein the temperature of the solution does not exceed the decomposition temperature after the initiation of evaporation of the organosilicon compound until the completion of vapor deposition; and the heat evaporation of the organosilicon compound is completed within 90 seconds after the initiation of heating of the organosilicon compound.

2. The process of producing a thin film according to claim 1, wherein the solution containing an organosilicon compound is heated by irradiation with an electron gun.

3. A process for producing a thin film, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings and/or examples.

4. A thin film when produced by a process according to any one of claims 1 to 3.