Plastic lenses for spectacles with high refractive indices

Abstract

A base lens of a polyurethane resin comprising a polyisocyanate compound and a polythiol, a sulfur-containing polyol or the like is coated with a primer layer having a thickness sufficient for shock absorption, an organosiloxane-type, hard coat layer having a refractive index of 1.47 or more, and optionally a thin metal layer in that order. As having this constitution, the plastic lens has a mechanical strength resistant to striking energy of not smaller than 4 times the striking energy value of the FDA Standard, 0.204 joules, when the center thickness of the lens is from 0.7 mm to less than 1.2 mm. Since the latitude in the acceptable range for the conditions for the processing of the lens (relative to the thickness of each constitutive layer) is large, the producibility of the lens is high. An inhomogeneous layer may be formed between the adjacent layers, which reduces the reflectivity of the lens for transmitting light and prevents the formation of interference fringes in the lens. An ultraviolet absorbent, if added to the hard coat layer, can cut off ultraviolet rays, while preventing the base lens and the coat layers from being aged, and is helpful in protecting eyeballs.

1. A plastic lens for spectacles with high refractive indices, comprising a plastic lens base of a polyurethane resin as obtained through polymerization of at least one polyisocyanate compound and at least one polythiol and/or sulfur-containing polyol, a primer layer of a polyurethane formed on said base lens, and an organosiloxane-type, hard coat layer having a refractive index of 1.47 or more formed on said primer layer, which is characterized in that said primer layer has a thickness sufficient for shock absorption, and that when  the thickness of the center part of the lens is from 0.7 mm to less than 1.2 mm, whereby the lens is resistant to striking energy of not smaller than 4 times the striking energy value of the FDA Standard, 0.204 joules. 
     
     
       2. The plastic lens for spectacles with high refractive indices as claimed in  claim 1 , which has at least one layer of thin metal film as formed on said hard coat layer. 
     
     
       3. The plastic lens for spectacles with high refractive indices as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the thin metal film as formed on the hard coat layer is a thin film of a metal oxide. 
     
     
       4. The plastic lens for spectacles with high refractive indices as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , which has a roughened surface with fine projections and/or depressions each having a radius of curvature of from 15 nm to 150 nm, as formed in at least one of the interface between the plastic lens base and the primer layer, the interface between the primer layer and the hard coat layer, and the interface between the hard coat layer and air or the thin metal layer. 
     
     
       5. The plastic lens for spectacles with high refractive indices as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the polyurethane resin as obtained through polymerization of at least one polyisocyanate compound and at least one polythiol and/or sulfur-containing polyol has a refractive index of 1.59 or more. 
     
     
       6. The plastic lens for spectacles with high refractive indices as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the thickness of the primer layer of a polyurethane resin is 0.8μ or more. 
     
     
       7. The plastic lens for spectacles with high refractive indices as claimed in  claim 1  to  2 , wherein the resin to form the hard coat layer comprises an ultraviolet absorbent. 
     
     
       8. The plastic lens for spectacles with high refractive indices as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the thickness of the primer layer is  0 . 4 - 6 μ. 
     
     
       9. The plastic lens for spectacles with high refractive indices as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the thickness of the hard coat layer is  1 - 8 μ. 
     
     
       10. The plastic lens for spectacles with high refractive indices as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the polyurethane resin as obtained through polymerization of at least one polyisocyanate compound and at least polythiol and/or sulfur- containing polyol has a refractive index of  1 . 59  or more.   
     
     
       11. The plastic lens for spectacles with high refractive indices as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the resin to form the hard coat layer comprises an ultraviolet absorbent. 
     
     
       12. The plastic lens for spectacles with high refractive indices as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the polyisocyanate compound used to make the polyurethane resin is selected from the group consisting of aliphatic, aromatic and alicyclic diisocyanates. 
     
     
       13. The plastic lens for spectacles with high refractive indices as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the polythiol used to make the polyurethane resin is a dithiol or polythiol selected from the group consisting of di(   2   - mercaptoethyl )  ether, pentaerythritol tetrakisthioglycolate, pentaerythritol tetrakis (   3   - mercaptopropionate ) , and  1 , 2   - bis ((   2   - mercaptoethyl ) thio )-   3   - mercaptopropane.   
     
     
       14. The plastic lens for spectacles with high refractive indices as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the thickness of the primer layer is  0 . 4 - 6 μ. 
     
     
       15. The plastic lens for spectacles with high refractive indices as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the thickness of the hard coat layer  1 - 8 μ. 
     
     
       16. The plastic lens for spectacles with high refractive indices as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the polyurethane resin as obtained through polymerization of at least one polyisocyanate compound and at least polythiol and/or sulfur- containing polyol has a refractive index of  1 . 59  or more.   
     
     
       17. The plastic lens for spectacles with high refractive indices as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the resin to form the hard coat layer comprises an ultraviolet absorbent. 
     
     
       18. The plastic lens for spectacles with high refractive indices as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the polyisocyanate compound used to make the polyurethane resin is selected from the group consisting of aliphatic, aromatic and alicyclic diisocyanates. 
     
     
       19. The plastic lens- for spectacles with high refractive indices as claimed in    claim 12    wherein the polythiol used to make the polyurethane resin is a dithiol or polythiol selected from the group consisting of di (   2   - mercaptoethyl )  ether, pentaerythritol tetrakisthioglycolate, pentaerythritol tetrakis (   3   - mercaptopropionate ) , and  1 , 2   - bis ((   2   - mercaptoethyl ) thio )-   3   - mercaptopropane.