Patent ID: 8231432

Claim:
A method of polishing an optical surface comprising: providing a synthetic optical polishing pitch formulated for polishing the optical surface, the optical polishing pitch comprising a plasticizer mixed with a synthetic polymeric substance, the plasticizer being combined with the synthetic polymeric substance in an amount sufficient to promote and maintain continuous creep during and through the end of the polishing operation; wherein a ratio of the plasticizer to the synthetic polymeric substance is about 50-50 to about 1-99 by weight; applying the synthetic optical polishing pitch to a lap; contacting the optical surface with the polishing pitch applied to the lap; lapping the optical surface by pressing it against the lap with the synthetic optical polishing pitch in the presence of an optical polishing slurry comprising particles that become charged or embedded in the optical polishing pitch surface during lapping such that the particles wear away the optical surface to obtain a highly polished optical surface.