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Four Phenomena of Light Combined with Coating Application

Editorial:2026-03-16

  1. Light Reflection: The Fundamental Phenomenon of Coatings, Ubiquitous in Everyday Life. What is reflection? Simply put, it is the phenomenon where light hitting an object's surface is partially reflected back, akin to a ball bouncing off a wall. This is the essence of light reflection. Application in Coatings: Common high-reflectivity coatings (mirror coatings) leverage this principle—by depositing multiple layers of specific materials on the substrate surface, light undergoes repeated reflections and superposition, ultimately achieving high reflectivity (for instance, mirror coatings can reflect over 90% of light; laser equipment mirrors also operate on this principle).
  2. Light Refraction: The Fundamental Principle of Coating Thickness Control. What is refraction? When light travels from one medium (e.g., air) to another (e.g., glass or coated layers), its path bends—much like how chopsticks bend when dipped in water. This optical phenomenon forms the basis of coating technology. The key lies in refractive index: Different materials exhibit varying refractive indices. By selecting coatings with specific refractive indices and precise thicknesses, we can control light paths to achieve desired effects. In lens coatings, for instance, refractive index adjustments optimize light focus and enhance imaging quality.

 

  1. Light Interference: The "Core Essence" of Optical Coatings. What is the key to anti-reflective coatings? Simply put, when two or more light beams meet, they either reinforce each other (brightening) or cancel each other out (darkening)—this phenomenon is known as light interference. In coating applications: This is the most fundamental principle of optical coatings. The most common anti-reflective coatings (transmission enhancement coatings) utilize this interference principle—by depositing a film of specific thickness on the lens surface, the reflected light from the upper layer is canceled out by the reflected light from the lower layer (substrate surface), thereby reducing reflection and increasing light transmittance (e.g., anti-reflective coatings in myopia glasses and camera lenses work on this principle).
  2. Light Absorption: The "Supporting Role" of Coatings to Eliminate Ambient Light Interference  What is absorption? When light strikes an object's surface or medium, a portion is absorbed and converted into other forms of energy (e.g., heat), ceasing propagation. This phenomenon is termed light absorption.  Application in Coatings: While not the core function, light absorption plays a vital role in coatings. For instance, filter films utilize specific material layers to absorb unwanted light (such as ambient light or harmful UV rays) while allowing only the desired light to pass through (e.g., camera lens filters that absorb ambient light to enhance image clarity). Certain specialized coatings absorb excess light to prevent reflections that could interfere with equipment operation.

 

  1. Light Reflection: The Fundamental Phenomenon of Coatings, Ubiquitous in Everyday Life. What is reflection? Simply put, it is the phenomenon where light hitting an object's surface is partially reflected back, akin to a ball bouncing off a wall. This is the essence of light reflection. Application in Coatings: Common high-reflectivity coatings (mirror coatings) leverage this principle—by depositing multiple layers of specific materials on the substrate surface, light undergoes repeated reflections and superposition, ultimately achieving high reflectivity (for instance, mirror coatings can reflect over 90% of light; laser equipment mirrors also operate on this principle).
  2. Light Refraction: The Fundamental Principle of Coating Thickness Control. What is refraction? When light travels from one medium (e.g., air) to another (e.g., glass or coated layers), its path bends—much like how chopsticks bend when dipped in water. This optical phenomenon forms the basis of coating technology. The key lies in refractive index: Different materials exhibit varying refractive indices. By selecting coatings with specific refractive indices and precise thicknesses, we can control light paths to achieve desired effects. In lens coatings, for instance, refractive index adjustments optimize light focus and enhance imaging quality.

 

  1. Light Interference: The "Core Essence" of Optical Coatings. What is the key to anti-reflective coatings? Simply put, when two or more light beams meet, they either reinforce each other (brightening) or cancel each other out (darkening)—this phenomenon is known as light interference. In coating applications: This is the most fundamental principle of optical coatings. The most common anti-reflective coatings (transmission enhancement coatings) utilize this interference principle—by depositing a film of specific thickness on the lens surface, the reflected light from the upper layer is canceled out by the reflected light from the lower layer (substrate surface), thereby reducing reflection and increasing light transmittance (e.g., anti-reflective coatings in myopia glasses and camera lenses work on this principle).
  2. Light Absorption: The "Supporting Role" of Coatings to Eliminate Ambient Light Interference  What is absorption? When light strikes an object's surface or medium, a portion is absorbed and converted into other forms of energy (e.g., heat), ceasing propagation. This phenomenon is termed light absorption.  Application in Coatings: While not the core function, light absorption plays a vital role in coatings. For instance, filter films utilize specific material layers to absorb unwanted light (such as ambient light or harmful UV rays) while allowing only the desired light to pass through (e.g., camera lens filters that absorb ambient light to enhance image clarity). Certain specialized coatings absorb excess light to prevent reflections that could interfere with equipment operation.

 

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