Patent ID: 7143609

Claim:
A method of making a precision optical element, the method comprises: (a) providing a non-oxide glass with a glass transition temperature (Tg) of up to about 550° C.; (b) providing a mold having an active surface that has an optical finish, wherein said active surface if made of a titanium alloy with a composition, in terms of weight percent, comprising about 98–80% Ti, 1–10% Al, and 1–10% V; (c) placing said glass in said mold; (d) heating said mold and glass to an operational temperature from about 10° C. to about 110° C. above the Tg; and (e) pressing the mold when the viscosity of the glass reaches about 10 6 –10 12 poise; (f) cooling the mold at a predetermined rate; and (g) extracting the optical element from the mold; wherein, optionally, said titanium active surface is coated with a release agent.