An encapsulant for use with opto-electronic devices and optical components
incorporates a filler made from a glass that has been processed into
particle form and heated to a predetermined temperature for a
predetermined time, along with an epoxy having an index of refraction
matched to that of the glass and heated to a predetermined temperature
for a predetermined time, to prevent settling of the filler particles
after mixing the filler particles with the epoxy, and thereby obtaining
uniform dispersion of the particles within the epoxy. The encapsulant
provides for high light transmittance, and its coefficient of thermal
expansion can be varied by varying the amount of filler without
substantially altering the optical properties of the encapsulant. The
coefficient of thermal expansion variation within the encapsulant
preferably is less than 30%, due to uniform dispersion of the filler
particles within the epoxy.