Modeling high-temperature glass molding process by coupling heat transfer and viscous deformation analysis

Glass molding is as an effective approach to produce precision micro optical elements with complex shapes at high production efficiency. Since glass is deformed at a high temperature where the mechanical and optical properties depend strongly on temperature, modeling the heat transfer and high-temperature deformation behavior of glass is an important issue. In this paper, a two-step pressing process is proposed according to the non-linear thermal expansion characteristics of glass. Heat transfer phenomenon was modeled by considering the temperature dependence of specific heat and thermal conductivity of glass. Viscosity of glass near the softening point was measured by uniaxially pressing cylindrical glass preforms between a pair of flat molds using an ultraprecision glass molding machine. Based on the numerical models and experimentally measured glass property, thermo-mechanical finite element method simulation of temperature rise during heating and material flow during pressing was carried out. The minimum heating time and pressing load changes were successfully predicted.