superpolished
Superpolished is an adjective used in materials science and engineering to describe a surface finish that is exceptionally smooth, approaching a mirror-like reflectivity. The term is not tied to a single standard, but is generally applied where sub-micrometer roughness is desired to minimize scattering, glare, or friction in high-performance components. In practice, superpolished finishes are specified by roughness metrics such as Ra or Rz, and by qualitative visual assessment and interferometric measurements. The exact thresholds vary by industry, but they are typically finer than conventional high-polish finishes and sometimes approach nanometer-scale roughness for optical-grade surfaces.
Techniques to achieve a superpolished finish include mechanical polishing with progressively finer abrasives, chemical mechanical polishing
Applications span optical components such as lenses and mirrors, semiconductor wafers, medical implants with enhanced corrosion
Limitations and considerations include challenges in achieving uniform superpolish over large areas, susceptibility to micro-cracking or