Abstract

Papers on the polishing mechanism can be classified into wear theory, flow theory, and chemical theory. A fourth concept, based upon the combined actions of the three, is also known. None presents a full explanation of or justification for what occurs during the polishing process, the main reason being that the concepts were developed using only one or a very limited number of glasses; only Kaller used as many as five different types of optical glass. No consideration has as yet been given to the recently developed lanthanum borate glasses, some of which are much harder than pure silica.

© 1982 Optical Society of America