Abstract: The invention generally concerns optical systems and, in particular, a method and device for joining at least one first and one second optical element to an optical composite element, as well as an optical composite element itself. In order to produce optical systems having at least two optical elements more easily and more economically, the invention provides a method for joining at least one first and one second optical element, in which the first optical element contains a first glass or a crystalline material, the second optical element contains a second glass, and the first glass or the crystalline material has a transformation temperature Tg1 or a melting temperature that differs from the transformation temperature Tg2 of the second glass, and at least the glass of the second optical element is heated and brought into contact with the glass or with the crystalline material of the first optical element.

Abstract: Methods for press molding a glass body, especially for optical applications, without additional grinding and polishing steps are described. One method is performed with a press mold having an upper mold part, a lower mold part and, if necessary or desired, a ring. In order to improve the quality of the products, especially glass bodies of larger diameters, a voltage is applied across the upper mold part and the lower mold part when the glass body is within the press mold and a pressing force is applied to the glass body when the temperature of the glass body matches the temperature of the press mold. Alternatively, in another method the press mold is cooled after it reaches a predetermined temperature and the pressing force is applied to the glass body in the mold after exceeding the sticking temperature (T0).

Abstract: In order to provide glass ceramic articles with an improved surface with regard to roughness, the invention relates to a method for producing glass ceramic panels (40) in which a green glass panel (10) is produced by hot forming and the green glass panel (10) is subsequently ceramized to form a glass ceramic, wherein the green glass panel (10) is fire-polished on at least one surface (11, 12) before or during the ceramizing.

Abstract: The optical lens, especially for a motor vehicle, is provided with a soft-focus effect, e.g. to soften a light-dark boundary on an illuminated surface. For this purpose the optical lens has an optically active surface (5?) provided with an embossed fine structure (2) extending radially outward in a direction from an optical axis (O) toward an outer periphery (P) in an undulating form and an embossed microstructure (3) superimposed on the embossed fine structure (2). The fine structure (2) has a roughness that is greater than that of the microstructure (3). The fine structure (2) preferably has a roughness of from 1 ?m to 10 ?m and the microstructure (3) has a roughness (h) in a range of from 0.1 ?m to 2.5 ?m.

Abstract: The optical lens, especially for a motor vehicle, is provided with a soft-focus effect, e.g. to soften a light-dark boundary on an illuminated surface. For this purpose the optical lens has an optically active surface (5?) provided with an embossed fine structure (2) extending radially outward in a direction from an optical axis (O) toward an outer periphery (P) in an undulating form and an embossed microstructure (3) is provided on the embossed fine structure (2). The fine structure (2) preferably has a roughness of from 1 ?m to 10 ?m and the microstructure (3) has a roughness (h) in a range of from 0.1 ?m to 2.5 ?m.

Abstract: Methods for press molding a glass body, especially for optical applications, without additional grinding and polishing steps are described. One method is performed with a press mold having an upper mold part, a lower mold part and, if necessary or desired, a ring. In order to improve the quality of the products, especially glass bodies of larger diameters, a voltage is applied across the upper mold part and the lower mold part when the glass body is within the press mold and a pressing force is applied to the glass body when the temperature of the glass body matches the temperature of the press mold. Alternatively, in another method the press mold is cooled after it reaches a predetermined temperature and the pressing force is applied to the glass body in the mold after exceeding the sticking temperature (T0).

Abstract: A method for producing thin glass articles from low-viscosity glass, in particular of glass with viscositiesn<10 dPas is presented, in which a thin-bodied glass composition is fed into a lower tool (1), and the glass composition is compressed by driving an upper tool (4), positioned opposite the lower tool (1), and the lower tool (1) together. The invention also relates to the use of the method. A method for producing thin glass articles is to be furnished, in which the problem of rapid cooling that occurs in the prior art is eliminated, so as to enhance the quality of the finished glass and to create the possibility of producing thin glass articles by means of pressing.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of dense-sintered glass-ceramic shaped objects which have a coefficient of thermal expansion, .alpha., of -0.5.times.10.sup.-6 /K to 1.8.times.10.sup.-6 /K in the range between 20.degree. C. and 700.degree. C. whereby ceramizable glass powder and/or glass-ceramic powder from the system Li.sub.2 O-Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 -SiO.sub.2 is slip-cast by means of porous molds, dried, pretempered if necessary at temperatures up to 600.degree. C., vitrified and then sintered until the sintering temperature is reached up to relative densities of greater than 0.96 and ceramized, and whereby the glass powder and/or the glass ceramic-powder is prepared in a first grain size fraction of less than 63 .mu.m, in particular less than 45 .mu.m, and in a second grain size fraction of less than 7 .mu.m, in a ratio of the fractions to one another between 2:1 and 4:1, to form a stable, pourable slurry.

Abstract: A process for producing dense-sintered cordierite bodies and zirconium dioxide-reinforced cordierite bodies with a maximum of 50% by weight of ZrO.sub.2 is described, wherein a powder of cordierite particles of stoichiometric composition and, if appropriate, ZrO.sub.2 of a particle size of less than 3 .mu.m is heated at temperatures above 800.degree. C. at a rate of temperature rise of less than 5.degree. C. per minute. Virtually pore-free sintered bodies having outstanding mechanical properties can be produced by the process.