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CR-39 (ADC): The Unrivaled Standard for Optical Clarity

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CR-39 (ADC): The Unrivaled Standard for Optical Clarity

Nov 27 , 2025
CR-39 ADC Resin Lens Technology

 

CR-39 (ADC): The Unrivaled Standard for Optical Clarity

The Benchmark of the Optical Industry. Since its discovery in 1947 by the Columbia Resins project, CR-39 (Allyl Diglycol Carbonate) has remained the gold standard for visual acuity in plastic optics.

While newer high-index materials offer thinner profiles, CR-39 retains a cult status among optometrists and luxury fashion brands for two specific reasons: its glass-like optical quality (Abbe Value 58) and its superior tintability. At Jings Eyewear, we utilize premium ADC monomers to cast lenses that offer the perfect balance of performance and aesthetics.

-------------- Optical Performance Analysis ---------------

The Science of Clarity: Abbe Value 58

In the world of optics, Abbe Value defines a material's dispersion—how much it splits white light into rainbows (chromatic aberration). Higher numbers mean clearer vision.

  • Mineral Glass: Abbe ~59 (Heavy, Brittle)
  • CR-39 (ADC): Abbe ~58 (The closest plastic equivalent to glass)
  • Polycarbonate: Abbe ~30 (High dispersion/Low clarity)

For users with low prescriptions, CR-39 offers the most natural, distortion-free visual experience available in a polymer format. It virtually eliminates the "rainbow effect" often seen in the peripheral vision of polycarbonate lenses.

Abbe Value Comparison

 

-------------- Fashion & Tinting Capabilities ---------------

The Artist's Canvas: Superior Tinting

Unlike polycarbonate, which requires complex surface treatments to accept color, CR-39's molecular structure allows pigments to penetrate deep into the lens matrix.

  • Fashion Gradient Tints
    Fashion Gradients
    Achieve smooth, consistent bi-color and tri-color gradients without streaks. Ideal for luxury sunwear collections.
  • Solid Color Consistency
    Color Consistency
    CR-39 maintains color stability over time and resists fading better than surface-tinted materials.
  • UV400 Treatments
    UV Capabilities
    While CR-39 naturally blocks UV up to 350nm, we apply specialized bulk treatments to achieve full UV400 protection.

-------------- Technical Specifications ---------------

Property CR-39 Specification Benefit
Refractive Index 1.499 Cost-effective, standard thickness
Abbe Value 58 Superior optical clarity, low fatigue
Specific Gravity 1.32 g/cm³ Half the weight of mineral glass
Heat Resistance ~100°C Excellent for AR coating application

Manufacturing Process: Thermal Casting

CR-39 is not injection molded. It is created through a thermal curing casting process. The liquid monomer is poured into precise glass molds and cured in ovens for up to 20 hours.

Why this matters: This slow curing process results in a lens with minimal internal material stress. This stress-free structure is why CR-39 is less likely to warp in frames and why it provides such stable optical performance compared to mass-produced injection lenses.

Is CR-39 Right for Your Collection?

Ideal for: Fashion Sunglasses, Tinted Lenses, Low SPH Prescriptions.

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