A.V.Luikov Heat and Mass Transfer Institute offers consumers technology and equipment for magnetorheological polishing of optical elements under a commercial agreement with technical support, as well as partners to conclude a joint venture agreement.

The A.V. Lykov Institute of Heat and Mass Transfer of the NAS of Belarus specializing in research of industrial technologies has developed technology and equipment for magnetorheological finishing (MRF).

MRF is a method of surface treatment based on the rheological properties of magnetorheological polishing fluids (MPF) that is used to produce high-quality parts. In a magnetic field, the MPF becomes a viscoplastic medium, which acts as a polishing pad.

Main advantages of proposed technology and equipment:
- Precision, possibility to conduct treatment of surface without overheating and destruction of the material
- Dimensions of treated components: from 3 mm to 2.5 meters.

The equipment is multi-purpose and allows performing the following technological operations:
- Polishing - removing of the uniform layer from the surface
- Retouching - local surface treatment
- Form change from spherical to aspherical.

The equipment includes MRF computer numerical control (CNC) machines, modules, and liquids for surface treatment:
- 3-5 coordinate CNC machines for MRF, made of natural stone, using linear drives
- 1-2 coordinate modules for modification of machines and coordinate systems
- Magnetorheological liquids on the aqueous and non-aqueous basis.

Examples of MRF use:
- Superfinishing of the surface after traditional polishing or diamond grinding
- Planarization of wafers and thin films processing
- Replacement for the chemical etching process
- Removal of defective surface layers
- Forming of an aspherical surface
- Production of segmented aspherical metal-optical elements.

Treated materials:
- Optical materials (glass, quartz, glass ceramics)
- Optical ceramics (astropyroceramics, Zerodur)
- Laser crystals, including water-soluble (BBO, LiF, KDP, CaF2, MgF2)
- Super hard crystalline materials (SiC, Si3N4, SixNyOz, WC)
- IR materials (zinc chalcogenides ZnS and ZnSe; Ge)
- Semiconductor materials (Si, Ge, GaAs)
- Non-magnetic metals and alloys (Cu, Al, Cr, Ni, stainless steel)
- Ceramic materials
- Thin films and coatings.

The Institute offers partners and R&D organizations:
* as part of a commercial agreement with technical support, the acquisition of technology and equipment for magnetorheological polishing of optical elements;
* under the agreement on a joint venture, the creation of a joint production of equipment for magnetorheological polishing of optical elements.

The technology and equipment developed by the Belarus R&D institute allows to achieve accuracy of the shape up to
λ / 150 and surface roughness up to 0.07 nm, while equipment of other companies allows to achieve only accuracy of the shape up to λ / 50 and surface roughness up to 5 nm.

Patents of the Republic of Belarus: No. 5845 and No. 17339.

Patent Russian Federation №68409.

A.V.Luikov Heat and Mass Transfer Institute is the largest academic institution in the Republic of Belarus, which is engaged in solving fundamental and applied problems of heat/mass transfer, fluid dynamics, power engineering, thermal engineering, etc. and in developing energy-efficient and environmentally friendly technologies and equipment, facilities for power engineering and engineering, agro-industrial complex and construction industry, medicine, as well as for chemical, electron, radio, food, space industry.

Consumers interested in purchasing the technology and the equipment for magnetorheological polishing of optical elements under a commercial agreement with technical assistance.

Partners interested in establishing a joint production of the equipment for magnetorheological polishing of optical elements under a joint venture agreement.