ighly transparent multi-layered Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA)/BK10 glass fiber composites (thickness = 6.63 mm; V;Annealing was used to modify the refractive index (R.I.) of the glass fiber so that it would more closely match that of PMMA. Because annealed glass fibers had a more uniform R.I. than unannealed fibers, the composites made with annealed fibers had a higher transmission. The mechanical strength of annealed fiber/PMMA composites decreased as the fiber annealing temperature increased. This decrease was avoided by treating annealed fibers with HF.;The refractive index of glass fibers was measured over the visible range using the Christiansen principle. The refractive index for glass fibers as a function wavelength could be obtained with an accuracy of... |