The purpose of this guide is to identify the most common infrared-transmitting materials, pointing out key properties and their typical manufacturing and optical coating options. The information provided within this article is for reference purposes only.
Jeffrey L. Tosi and Kumar M. Khajurivala, Janos Technology LLC
The optical materials selected for an optical system depend upon the application, the required system performance and the environment in which the system is to perform; thus the materials’ optical, mechanical, thermal and thermo-optic properties must be taken into account.
There are three major bands that are worked with when optical systems are used within the Earth’s atmosphere. They are the short-wave infrared (SWIR) or near-infrared (NIR), which covers from 0.75 to 3 μm; the mid-wave (MW) infrared, which covers from 3 to 5 μm; and the long-wave infrared, which covers 8 to 14 μm. The areas in between these bands cannot be used due to absorption by various molecules in the Earth’s atmosphere. However, these in-between bands are usable if the system is at high altitude or in space.
Materials added to this updated guide include chalcogenide glasses; although available for many years, they have come of age in the optics industry due to their unique material properties. Other materials added to this guide are sapphire, aluminum, copper, electroless-nickel plated metal and copper nickel alloy.
Optical coatings for infrared materials have evolved over time with the availability of advanced technologies, automation, and processes using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition, ion assist deposition with electron beam sputtering and resistance sources. With the development of new chalcogenide materials and increased demands for lens systems that perform over multispectral bands from the visible (VIS) to the LWIR, the demand for new coating designs and processes has increased for both commercial and defense applications. Examples of current and new coatings for IR materials are mentioned in the updated guide, along with their environmental durability tests.
There is a glossary at the end of the article in case a definition is required.
Barium Fluoride (BaF2)
• Good transmission in the UV, VIS, NIR and MW spectral regions
• Hardness about half that of CaF2
• Is about 70% the mechanical strength of CaF2
• More susceptible to thermal shock than CaF2
• Somewhat more expensive than CaF2
• Not as readily available in large sizes as CaF2
• Diamond turnable
• Magnetorheological finishable
Transmission range
Transmission is above 90 percent between 0.25 and 9.5 μm
Index of refraction
1.466 @ 1.7 μm
1.455 @ 4 μm
dn/dT
−15.2 × 10−6/K
Density: 4.89 g/cm3
Hardness (Knoop): 82 kg/mm2
Rupture modulus
3800 psi
Thermal expansion coefficient
18.1 × 10−6/°C @ 20 °C ±100 °C
Typical applications
Thermal imaging, astronomy, lasers
Products manufactured
Lenses, aspheric lenses, windows, beamsplitters, optical filters, wedges and prisms
Surface finish
Polishes of 20-10 scratch-dig are mostly specified for UV and VIS applications. Typical specifications for surface quality in the IR are a 40-20 scratch-dig in the NIR spectral region and 60-40 scratch-dig for the MW area.
Surface figure
Surface figure of 1/10 to 1/4 wave @ 0.6328 μm are specified mostly on lenses for UV and VIS use. In the IR, typical surface figure ranges from 1/2 to 2 waves @ 0.6328 μm.
AR coating options
Typical available coatings for BaF2 include BBAR for 0.8 μm to 2.5 μm, 3 μm to 5 μm, or 1 μm to 5 μm, and dual-band AR for the 3.5- to 5.1-μm and 7.5- to 10.5-μm spectral regions.
Cadmium Telluride (CdTe)
• Extra handling and safety precautions are required when machining this material due to its toxicity; thus, few companies will process it
• Has the highest density of the common infrared-transmitting materials
• One of the widest transmission ranges of any infrared material
• Principally used in the 12- to 25-μm spectral region, where many other infrared materials have absorption bands
• Slightly less than half the hardness of ZnSe
• Significantly more expensive than Ge and ZnSe
• Diamond turnable
Transmission range
1 to 25 μm
Index of refraction
2.693 @ 4 μm
2.676 @ 10 μm
2.640 @ 19 μm
dn/dT
5.0 × 10−5/K
Density
5.85 g/cm3
Hardness (Knoop)
45 kg/mm2
Rupture modulus
3191 psi
Thermal expansion coefficient
5.9 × 10−6/°C @ 20 °C
Typical applications
Thermal imaging, low-power CO2 laser systems, detectors
Products manufactured
Lenses, aspheric lenses, windows, detector windows, beamsplitters, optical filters, wedges and prisms
Surface finish
Typical specifications for surface quality in the IR are a 40-20 scratch-dig in the NIR spectral region and 60-40 scratch-dig for the MW spectral region, and 60-40, 80-50 or 120-80 scratch-dig above 7 μm.
Surface figure
Ranges from 1/2 to 2 waves @ 0.6328 μm
AR coating options
CdTe can be AR-coated for various wavelengths or wavelength ranges between 1 and 25 μm.
Calcium Fluoride (CaF2)
• Good transmission in the UV, VIS, NIR and MW spectral regions
• It has a transmission above 90 percent between 0.25 and 7 μm
• Is about twice as hard as BaF2
• Less susceptible to thermal shock than BaF2
• Does not degrade due to moisture under ambient atmospheric conditions
• Less expensive than BaF2
• More readily available than BaF2 in large sizes
• Diamond turnable
• Magnetorheological finishable
Transmission range
0.13 to 10 μm
Index of refraction
1.428 @ 1.064 μm
1.425 @ 1.7 μm
1.4096 @ 4 μm
dn/dT
−11.0 × 10−6/K
Density
3.18 g/cm3
Hardness (Knoop)
158 kg/mm2
Rupture modulus
5295 psi
Thermal expansion coefficient
18.85 × 10−6/°C
Typical applications
Imaging, thermal imaging, astronomy, microlithography, laser
Products manufactured
Lenses, aspheric lenses, windows, beamsplitters, optical filters, wedges and prisms
Surface finish
Polishes of 20-10 scratch-dig are mostly specified for use in UV and VIS applications. Typical specifications in the infrared are 40-20 scratch-dig for the NIR spectral region and 60-40 scratch-dig for the MW spectral region.
Surface figure
In the UV and VIS spectral regions, specified surface figure ranges from 1/10 to 1/4 wave @ 0.6328 μm. In the IR, typical required surface figure ranges from 1/4 to 2 waves @ 0.6328 μm.
AR coating options
Available coatings include BBAR for the 0.8 to 2.5, 3 to 5, or 1 to 5 μm, dual-band AR for MWIR and LWIR and triple-band for NIR and MWIR spectral regions. Other options are also available.
Cesium Bromide (CsBr)
• Optical-grade cesium bromide transmits from the UV to the far-IR; one of the widest transmission bands of the IR materials.
• It is water-soluble, requiring protection from water moisture and humidity: accomplished by using moisture-protection AR coatings or by ensuring uncoated part is in a water-/humidity-free environment.
• Diamond turnable
• Extremely fragile
Transmission range
Transmission is above 80 percent from 0.35 to 32 μm.
Index of refraction
1.668 @ 4 μm
1.663 @ 10 μm
1.629 @ 25 μm
dn/dT
+79 × 10−6/°C
Density
4.44 g/cm3
Hardness (Knoop)
19.5 kg/mm2
Rupture modulus
1218 psi
Thermal expansion coefficient
47.9 × 10−6/°C
Typical applications
FTIR spectroscopy, laser systems, lens protectors for CO2 laser systems, imaging systems, analytical instruments
Products manufactured
Windows, lenses, laser lens protectors, aspheric lenses, wedges and prisms
Surface finish
Typical specifications for surface quality in the IR are 60-40, 80-50 or 120-80 scratch-dig.
Surface figure
In the IR, the typical surface figure specified ranges from 1/10 to 1/40 wave @ 10.6 μm.
AR coating options
Moisture-protection AR and BBAR coatings are available for various wavelengths or wavelength ranges within CsBr’s transmission range.
Cesium Iodide (CsI)
• Optical-grade cesium iodide transmits from the UV to the far-infrared; it has the widest transmission band of all the readily available IR materials.
• It is water-soluble, requiring protection from water moisture and humidity: accomplished by using moisture-protection AR coatings or by ensuring uncoated part is in a water-/humidity-free environment.
• Diamond turnable
• Extremely fragile
Transmission range
Transmission is above 80 percent from 0.42 to 40 μm.
Index of refraction
1.743 @ 4 μm
1.739 @ 10 μm
1.708 @ 30 μm
dn/dT
−99 × 10−6/°C @ 0.6 μm
Density
4.51 g/cm3
Hardness (Knoop)
20 kg/mm2
Rupture modulus
809 psi
Thermal expansion coefficient
50 × 10−6/°C
Typical applications
FTIR spectroscopy, laser systems, lens protectors for CO2 laser systems, imaging systems, analytical instruments
Products manufactured
Windows, lenses, laser lens protector windows, aspheric lenses, prisms and wedges
Surface finish
Typical specifications for surface quality in the IR are 60-40, 80-50 or 120-80 scratch-dig.
Surface figure
In the IR, the typical surface figure specified ranges from 1/10 to 1/40 wave @ 10.6 μm.
AR coating options
Moisture-protection AR and BBAR coatings are available for various wavelengths or wavelength ranges within CsI’s transmission range.
Chalcogenide Glass
• The IR optical materials known as the chalcogenides, of which the
various AMTIR glasses are a part, are optimized for pairing with other
IR materials in optical designs.
• The low dn/dT of the chalcogenides makes athermalization of a lens
system much simpler by the removing required mechanical compensation
complexity for the athermalization of optics with higher dn/dT’s.
• The chalcogenide series of glasses can be processed by generating,
polishing, diamond turning, magnetorheological finishing or molding.
• Generally used in the MW, LW and sometimes the NIR.
• Nearly as dense as Ge and has a lower index of refraction, making it a
good option for color correction with the use of Ge in an optical
system.
• Top use temperature is 300 °C.
• Performs especially well in the 8- to 12-μm area, where its absorption and dispersion are the lowest.
• Generally more expensive than Ge
• Diamond turnable
• Magnetorheological finishable
Note: Transmission values are typical for reference and are based on samples 6 to 6.4 mm in thickness. Source: Amorphous Materials Inc., SCHOTT North America, Inc. – Advanced Optics and Vitron Spezialwerkstoffe GmbH.
Fused Silica (SiO2), IR Grade
• IR-grade fused silica is used in NIR systems, usually along with other materials such as CaF2.
• It has high homogeneity and good transmission in the VIS and NIR spectral regions.
• Due to the material’s inherently hard SiO2 amorphous structure, fused silica is not diamond turnable, making it much more difficult and costly to fabricate finished aspheric surfaces.
Transmission range
0.25 to 3.5 μm
Index of refraction
1.4505 @ 1 μm
1. 4382 @ 2 μm
dn/dT
—
Density
2.203 g/cm3
Hardness (Knoop)
461 kg/mm2
Rupture modulus
7100 psi
Thermal expansion coefficient
0.58 × 10−6/°C @ 0 to 200 °C
Typical applications
Visible and thermal imaging, astronomy, laser
Products manufactured
Lenses, windows, wedges, beamsplitters, optical filters and prisms
Surface finish
Typical specifications for surface quality in the NIR regions are 40-20 scratch-dig.
Surface figure
In the VIS and NIR, typical surface figure ranges from 1/10 to 1 wave @ 0.6328 μm.
AR coating options
Typical available NIR coatings are BBAR for 0.8 to 2.5 μm and AR for 1.064 μm. Other coatings for UV, VIS and NIR applications are also available.
Gallium Arsenide (GaAs)
• Optical-grade gallium arsenide is IR-transmitting and semi-insulating.
• Nearly equivalent in hardness, strength and density to Ge
• Commonly used in applications where toughness and durability are of great importance
• Low absorption coefficient of 0.01 cm−1 from 2.5 to 12 μm
• Generally more expensive than Ge and ZnSe
• Diamond turnable
Transmission range
2 to 15 μm
Index of refraction
3.307 @ 4 μm
3.278 @ 10 μm
3.251 @ 14 μm
dn/dT
148 × 10−6/K
Density
5.31 g/cm3
Hardness (Knoop)
750 kg/mm2
Rupture modulus
10,436 psi
Thermal expansion coefficient
6 × 10−6/K
Typical applications
Thermal imaging, CO2 laser systems, FLIR
Products manufactured
Lenses, aspheric lenses, windows, wedges and prisms
Surface finish
Typical specifications for surface quality in the IR are 40-20 or 60-40 scratch-dig in the 2- to 7-μm region and 60-40, 80-50 or 120-80 scratch-dig for 7 to 15 μm.
Surface figure
In the IR, typical surface figure ranges from 1/2 to 2 waves @ 0.6328 μm.
AR coating options
Typical available coatings include BBAR in the 3- to 5-μm and 8- to 12-μm regions. Other specialized bands are also possible within the 2- to 15-μm region.
Germanium (Ge)
• Germanium has the highest index of refraction of any commonly used IR-transmitting material.
• It is very popular for systems operating in the 3- to 5-μm or 8- to 12-μm spectral regions.
• Its high index of refraction makes it desirable for the design of lenses that otherwise might not be possible.
• Germanium is a diamond-turnable material, so it is possible to incorporate aspheric and diffractive surfaces cost-effectively, which can in turn reduce the number of lens elements required in an assembly.
• Germanium naturally blocks UV and VIS light, as well as IR up to about 2 μm.
• Germanium has a large thermo-optic coefficient (dn/dT), causing large focus shifts with temperature that can make athermalization of an optical system difficult.
• Germanium has nearly the highest density of the IR-transmitting materials, which must be taken into account when designing weight-restricted systems.
• The material is also susceptible to thermal runaway; the hotter it gets, the more its absorption increases.
• Pronounced transmission degradation starts at about 100 °C, and rapid degradation begins between 200 and 300 °C, resulting in possible catastrophic failure of the optic.
• Germanium is generally less expensive than ZnSe and Cleartran.
• Diamond turnable
• Magnetorheological finishable
Transmission range
2 to 14 μm up to about 45 °C
Index of refraction
4.025 @ 4 μm
4.003 @ 10 μm
dn/dT
396 × 10−6/K
Density
5.323 g/cm3
Hardness (Knoop)
780 kg/mm2
Rupture modulus
10,500 psi
Thermal expansion coefficient
2.3 × 10−6/K @ 100 K
5.0 × 10−6/K @ 200 K
6.0 × 10−6/K @ 300 K
Typical applications
Thermal imaging, FLIR, FTIR, analytical instruments
Products manufactured
Lenses, aspheric lenses, binary (diffractive) lenses, windows, beamsplitters, optical filters, wedges and prisms
Surface finish
Typical specifications for surface quality in the IR are 40-20 or 60-40 scratch-dig in the 2- to 7-μm spectral region and 60-40, 80-50 or 120-80 scratch-dig for 7 to 14 μm. Diamond-turned surface finishes of 50 Å rms or better are typical.
Surface figure
In the IR, the typical specified surface figure ranges from 1/4 to 2 waves @ 0.6328 μm.
AR coating options
Typical available coatings include BBAR for the 3- to 5-μm, 8- to 14-μm and 3- to 14-μm spectral regions. Other application-specialized bands are also possible between 2 and 14 μm. Ge can also be diamondlike carbon coated in the 3- to 5-μm or 8- to 12-μm regions.
Lithium Fluoride (LiF)
• Lithium fluoride has the lowest index of refraction of all the common IR materials.
• It is slightly plastic, meaning that when it is mechanically stressed, it doesn’t come back to its original form.
• It also has a relatively high thermal expansion coefficient and is the most expensive of the fluoride series of crystals.
• Diamond turnable
• Magnetorheological finishable
Transmission range
0.12 to 8.5 μm
Index of refraction
1.373 @ 2.5 μm
1.349 @ 4.0 μm
dn/dT
−12.7 × 10−6/°C @ 0.6 μm
Density
2.639 g/cm3
Hardness (Knoop)
102 kg/mm2
Rupture modulus
1566 psi
Thermal expansion coefficient
37 × 10−6/°C
Typical applications
Visible and thermal imaging, astronomy, laser
Products manufactured
Lenses, aspheric lenses, windows, wedges, prisms
Surface finish
Typical specifications for surface quality in the IR are 40-20 scratch-dig in the NIR and 60-40 or 80-50 scratch-dig for the MW area.
Surface figure
In the IR, typical required surface figure ranges from 1/2 to 2 waves @ 0.6328 μm.
AR coating options
LiF can be AR-coated for use in the IR, but often without much improvement in transmission due to its low index of refraction and already high transmission.
Magnesium Fluoride (MgF2)
• Magnesium fluoride is one of the lowest-index IR materials, second only to LiF.
• Its birefringence should be taken into consideration before selection of this material in an optical design.
• It is resistant to thermal and mechanical shock.
• It is twice as hard as CaF2 but only half as hard as Ge.
• It is significantly more expensive than CaF2 and BaF2, but usually not more expensive than LiF.
• Diamond turnable
• Magnetorheological finishable
Transmission range
0.11 to 7.5 μm
Index of refraction
1.376 @ 0.7 μm
1.370 @ 1.7 μm
1.349 @ 4.0 μm
dn/dT
+2.3 & +1.7 × 10−6/°C @ 0.4 μm
Density
3.18 g/cm3
Hardness (Knoop)
415 kg/mm2
Rupture modulus
7108 psi
Thermal expansion coefficient
13.7 × 10−6/°C parallel to C-axis
8.48 × 10−6/°C perpendicular to C-axis
Typical applications
Visible and thermal imaging, astronomy, excimer laser
Products manufactured
Lenses, aspheric lenses, windows, beamsplitters, optical filters, wedges and prisms
Surface finish
Polishes of 10-5 or 20-10 scratch-dig are achieved at extra costs mainly for UV applications. Typical specifications for surface quality in the VIS and NIR regions are 40-20 and 60-40 scratch-dig in the MW range.
Surface figure
In the UV and VIS, surface figure ranges from 1/10 to 1/2 wave @ 0.6328 μm. In the IR, typical required surface figure ranges from 1/2 to 2 waves @ 0.6328 μm.
AR coating options
MgF2 can be AR-coated for use in the IR but often without much improvement in transmission due to its low index of refraction and already high transmission.
Metal Mirror Materials (MMM)
The most common metals used for metal mirrors are aluminum, electroless-nickel and copper.
Potassium Bromide (KBr)
• Transmits from the UV to the far-IR
• Is water-soluble, requiring protection from water moisture and humidity: accomplished by using moisture-protection AR coatings or by ensuring the uncoated part is in a water-/humidity-free environment.
• One of the widest transmission bands of the IR materials
• Does not have as great a durability as KCl or NaCl
• Generally more expensive than KCl and quite a bit more than NaCl
• Diamond turnable
• Extremely fragile
Transmission range
Transmission is above 80 percent from 0.26 to 23 μm
Index of refraction
1.535 @ 4 μm
1.525 @ 10 μm
1.490 @ 20 μm
dn/dT
−40.83 × 10−6/°C
Density
2.754 g/cm3
Hardness (Knoop)
5.9 kg/mm2
Rupture modulus
159 psi
Thermal expansion coefficient
43 × 10−6/°C
Typical applications
FTIR spectroscopy, laser systems, lens protectors for CO2 laser systems, imaging systems, analytical instruments
Products manufactured
Windows, lenses, laser lens protector windows, aspheric lenses, windows, wedges and prisms
Surface finish
Typical specifications for surface quality in the IR are 60-40, 80-50 or 120-80 scratch-dig.
Surface figure
In the IR, the typical surface figure specified ranges from 1/10 to 1/40 wave @ 10.6 μm.
AR coating options
Moisture-protection AR and BBAR coatings are available for various wavelengths or wavelength ranges within KBr’s transmission range.
Potassium Chloride (KCl)
• Transmits from the UV to the far-IR; one of the widest transmission bands of the IR materials.
• Is water-soluble, requiring protection from water moisture and humidity: accomplished by using moisture-protection AR coatings or by ensuring the uncoated part is in a water-/humidity-free environment.
• Higher rupture modulus than KBr, but not NaCl
• Generally less expensive than KBr and more expensive than NaCl
• Diamond turnable
• Extremely fragile
Transmission range
Transmission is above 80 percent from 0.3 to 21 μm
Index of refraction
1.472 @ 4 μm
1.456 @ 10 μm
1.426 @ 16 μm
dn/dT
−33.2 × 10−6/°C
Density
1.989 g/cm3
Hardness (Knoop)
7.2 kg/mm2
Rupture modulus
330 psi
Thermal expansion coefficient
36 × 10−6/°C
Typical applications
FTIR spectroscopy, laser systems, lens protectors for CO2 laser systems, imaging systems, analytical instruments
Products manufactured
Windows, lenses, laser lens protector windows, aspheric lenses, wedges and prisms
Surface finish
Typical specifications for surface quality in the IR region are 60-40, 80-50 or 120-80 scratch-dig.
Surface figure
In the IR, the typical surface figure specified ranges from 1/10 to 1/40 wave @ 10.6 μm.
AR coating options
Moisture-protection AR and BBAR coatings are available for various wavelengths or wavelength ranges within KCl’s transmission range.
Sapphire (Al2O3)
• Sapphire is one of the hardest and most durable optical materials.
• Transmits from about 0.25 to 5 μm
• Commonly used in IR optical systems, operating in the NIR and MW spectral bands.
• Sapphire’s crystal structure has a rhombohedral shape and is highly anisotropic, meaning its optical and mechanical properties vary with the crystal’s orientation.
• Withstands harsh environmental conditions
• It is harder than most all-optical materials, with the exception of diamond.
• Low dn/dT
• Sapphire is not diamond turnable, thus making it more difficult and costly to generate and polish aspheric surfaces into it.
• Magnetorheological finishable
Transmission range
0.17 to 5.5 μm
Index of Refraction
no = 1.768
ne = 1.760
dn/dT
+13 × 10−6/K
Density
3.98 g/cm3
Hardness (Knoop)
2200 kg/mm2 perpendicular to the C-axis
1900 kg/mm2 parallel to the C-axis
Rupture modulus
52 × 106 psi (358 GPa)
Thermal expansion coefficient
8.4 × 10−6/°C
Typical applications
High mechanical shock and vibration, thermal imaging, FLIR
Products manufactured
Lenses, aspheric lenses, domes, windows, beamsplitters, optical filters, wedges and prisms
Surface finish
Typical specifications for surface quality in the IR are 40-20 scratch-dig in the 1.2- to 3-μm region and 60-40 for 3 to 7 μm.
Surface figure
In the IR, typical required surface figure ranges from 1/4 to 2 waves @ 0.6328 μm.
AR coating options
AR coatings for sapphire include BBAR for 3 to 5 μm. Many other specialized wavelength bands are possible within the 0.25- to 5.0-μm range.
Silicon (Si), Transmitting Grade
• Silicon is a semiconductor material commonly used in IR optical systems operating in the NIR and MW spectral bands.
• With one of the lowest densities of the common IR materials, it is ideal for systems with weight constraints.
• Harder than Ge and not as brittle
• Is the lowest material cost option of all the IR materials but is more expensive to process than many of the other IR materials due to its hardness.
• Diamond turnable
• Magnetorheological finishable
Transmission range
1.2 to 7.0 μm (also from 25 out to beyond 300 μm)
Index of refraction
3.4289 @ 4 μm
dn/dT
+160 × 10−6/K
Density
2.329 g/cm3
Hardness (Knoop)
1150 kg/mm2
Rupture modulus
18,000 psi
Thermal expansion coefficient
2.55 × 10−6/°C @ 25 °C
Typical applications
Thermal imaging, FLIR
Products manufactured
Lenses, aspheric lenses, binary (diffractive) lenses, windows, beamsplitters, optical filters, wedges and prisms
Surface finish
Typical specifications for surface quality in the IR are 40-20 scratch-dig in the 1.2- to 3-μm region and 60-40 for 3 to 7 μm. Diamond-turned surface finishes of 50 Å rms or better are typical.
Surface figure
In the IR, typical required surface figure ranges from 1/4 to 2 waves @ 0.6328 μm.
AR coating options
The most common AR coating for Si is BBAR for 3 to 5 μm. Many other specialized wavelength bands are possible for the 1.2- to 7.0-μm range. Si can also be hard carbon or diamondlike carbon coated for 3 to 5 μm.
Sodium Chloride (NaCl)
• Optical-grade NaCl is water-soluble and transmits from the UV to the far-IR.
• Is water-soluble, requiring protection from water moisture and humidity: accomplished by using moisture-protection AR coatings or by ensuring the uncoated part is in a water-/humidity-free environment.
• More durable than KBr or KCl
• Diamond turnable
• Extremely fragile
Transmission range
Transmission is above 80 percent from 0.23 to 12 μm
Index of refraction
1.522 @ 4 μm
1.495 @ 10 μm
dn/dT
−36 × 10−6/°C @ 0.7 μm
Density
2.165 g/cm3
Hardness (Knoop)
15.2 kg/mm2
Rupture modulus
345 psi
Thermal expansion coefficient
44 × 10−6/°C
Typical applications
FTIR spectroscopy, laser systems, lens protectors for CO2 laser systems, imaging systems and analytical instruments
Products manufactured
Windows, lenses, laser lens protectors, aspheric lenses, wedges and prisms
Surface finish
Typical specifications of surface quality in the IR are 60-40, 80-50 or 120-80 scratch-dig.
Surface figure
In the IR, the typical surface figure specified ranges from 1/10 to 1/40 wave @ 10.6 μm.
AR coating options
Moisture-protection AR and BBAR coatings are available for various wavelengths or wavelength ranges within NaCl’s transmission range.
Thallium Bromoiodide (KRS-5)
• Optical-grade KRS-5 transmits from the visible to the far-IR
• Does cold flows when subjected to pressure
• Surface figure is extremely difficult to hold due to the materials properties
• It is much harder than NaCl, KBr and KCl and only about one-third as hard as ZnSe
• KRS-5 is diamond turnable
• Extra handling and safety precautions are required when machining this material
Transmission range
Transmission is above 70 percent @ 0.7 to 32 μm
Index of refraction
2.382 @ 4 μm
2.371 @ 10 μm
2.318 @ 25 μm
dn/dT
−235 × 10−6/°C
Density
7.371 g/cm3
Hardness (Knoop)
40 kg/mm2
Rupture modulus
3772 psi
Thermal expansion coefficient
58 × 10−6/°C
Typical applications
FTIR spectroscopy, laser systems, imaging systems and analytical instruments
Products manufactured
Windows, lenses, laser lens protectors, aspheric lenses, prisms and wedges
Surface finish
Typical specifications for surface quality in the IR are 60-40, 80-50 or 120-80 scratch-dig.
Surface figure
In the IR, the typical surface figure specified ranges from 1/10 to 1/40 wave @ 10.6 μm.
AR coating options
AR and BBAR coatings are available for various wavelengths or wavelength ranges within KRS-5’s transmission range.
Zinc Selenide (ZnSe)
• As a chemical vapor deposited (CVD) material, ZnSe is the material of choice for optics used in high-power CO2 laser systems due to its low absorption at 10.6 μm.
• ZnSe is also a popular choice in systems operating at various bands within its wide transmission range.
• Its high resistance to thermal shock makes it the prime material for high-power CO2 laser systems.
• ZnSe is only about two-thirds the hardness of ZnS multispectral grade, but the harder AR coatings serve to protect ZnSe.
• ZnSe’s cost is about the same as ZnS Clear grade.
• Generally more expensive than Ge
• Diamond turnable
Transmission range
0.6 to 16 μm
Index of refraction
2.4332 @ 4.0 μm
2.4065 @ 10.0 μm
2.4028 @ 10.6 μm
dn/dT
(avg. @ 298 to 358 K)
107 × 10−6/K @ 1.15 μm
70 × 10−6/K @ 1.15 μm
62 × 10−6/K @ 3.39 μm
61 × 10−6/K @ 10.6 μm
Density
5.27 g/cm3
Hardness (Knoop)
110 kg/mm2
Rupture modulus
7979 psi
Thermal expansion coefficient
7.1 × 10−6/K @ 273 K
7.8 × 10−6/K @ 373 K
8.3 × 10−6/K @ 473 K
Typical applications
CO2 laser systems, thermal imaging, FLIR, astronomy, medical
Products manufactured
Lenses, aspheric lenses, binary (diffractive) lenses, windows, beamsplitters, optical filters and prisms
Surface finish
Typical specifications for surface quality in the IR are 40-20 or 60-40 scratch-dig in the NIR and MW, and 60-40, 80-50 or 120-80 scratch-dig in the LW region. Diamond-turned surface finishes of 100 Å rms or better are typical.
Surface figure
In the NIR and IR, typical required surface figures range from 1/4 to 2 waves @ 0.6328 μm.
AR coating options
Typical available coatings include DLC for MWIR and LWIR, BBAR for the 0.8- to 2.5-, 3- to 5, 1- to 5-, 8- to 12-, and 3- to 12-μm spectral regions; and single-wavelength coating AR at 10.6 μm. Many other specialized wavelength bands are possible from
0.6 to 16 μm.
Zinc Sulfide, Clear Grade
• Also known as Cleartran* and multispectral zinc sulfide
• A form of CVD zinc sulfide that is further refined by a process that purifies the material and normalizes the crystal structure, which produces a homogenous single crystal-like transmission throughout the entire VIS, MW and LW spectral regions.
• Due to its good transmission in the VIS and IR, Cleartran is an ideal choice for systems with a visible camera, and for various IR detectors or IR cameras.
• Cleartan is about one-third harder than ZnSe.
• Cleartran is about two-thirds the hardness of ZnS regular.
• The relative price of Cleartran is about one-third more than ZnS regular; is about the same as ZnSe; and is generally more than Ge.
• Diamond turnable
• Low absorption and scatter properties over its relatively broad transmission range
Transmission range
0.4 to 12 μm
Index of refraction
2.350 @ 0.63 μm
2.289 @ 1.06 μm
2.252 @ 4 μm
2.200 @ 10 μm
dn/dT
(avg. @ 298 to 358 K)
54.3 × 10−6/K @ 0.6328 μm
42.1 × 10−6/K @ 1.15 μm
38.5 × 10−6/K @ 3.39 μm
Density
4.09 g/cm3
Hardness (Knoop)
160 kg/mm2
Rupture modulus
8704 psi
Thermal expansion coefficient
6.3 × 10−6/K @ 273 K
7.0 × 10−6/K @ 373 K
7.5 × 10−6/K @ 473 K
Typical applications
Visible imaging, thermal imaging FLIR, astronomy
Products manufactured
Lenses, aspheric lenses, binary (diffractive) lenses, windows, beamsplitters and optical filters and prisms
Surface finish
Typical specifications for surface quality are 40-20 scratch-dig in the 0.4- to 3-μm spectral region and 60-40 or 80-50 scratch-dig in the 3- to 12-μm spectral region. Diamond-turned surface roughness of 100 Å rms or better is typical.
Surface figure
In the VIS and NIR spectral regions, specified surface figure ranges from 1/10 to 1/2 wave @ 0.6328 μm. In the IR, typical required surface figure ranges from 1/2 to 2 waves @ 0.6328 μm.
AR coating options
Typical available coatings include BBAR for the 0.8- to 2.5-, 3- to 5-, and 8- to 12-μm bands. Other specialized bands are possible from 0.4 to 12 μm.
* Trade name of Rohm & Haas Advanced Materials (DOW).
Zinc Sulfide (ZnS), Regular Grade
• As a CVD material, ZnS regular grade has good imaging quality from 8 to 12 μm. It also transmits in the 3- to 5-μm band, but with higher absorption and scatter than the Clear ZnS.
• It exhibits high strength and hardness, and good resistance to hostile environments.
• It is about one-third harder than Clear-tran and about twice as hard as ZnSe.
• Does not transmit well in the VIS spectral region
• Relatively low cost of about two-thirds the price of Cleartran or ZnSe
• Diamond turnable
Transmission range
3 to 12 μm
Index of refraction
2.252 @ 4 μm
2.200 @ 10 μm
dn/dT
(avg. @ 298 to 358 K)
46 × 10−6/K @ 1.15 μm
43 × 10−6/K @ 3.39 μm
41 × 10−6/K @ 10.6 μm
Density
4.09 g/cm3
Hardness (Knoop)
200 kg/mm2
Rupture modulus
14,943 psi
Thermal expansion coefficient
6.6 × 10−6/K @ 273 K
7.3 × 10−6/K @ 373 K
7.7 × 10−6/K @ 473 K
Typical applications
Thermal imaging, FLIR
Products manufactured
Lenses, aspheric lenses, windows, domes, wedges and prisms
Surface finish
Typical specifications for surface quality in the 3- to 12-μm spectral region are 60-40, 80-50 or 120-80 scratch-dig.
Surface figure
In the IR, typical surface figure is specified from 1/4 to 2 waves @ 0.6328 μm.
AR coating options
The most typical available coating specified for ZnS regular is BBAR for 8- to 12-μm regions. It can also be hard carbon or diamondlike carbon coated.
References
Handbook of Optics, Second Edition, McGraw Hill, Inc. 1995.
The Infrared Handbook, Revised Edition, William L. Wolfe & George J. Zissis, ERIM 1985.
Commercially available data.
Notes
• With the employment of magnetorheological finishing (MRF) on many of the materials listed in this guide, tight surface figure such as 1⁄20 or 1⁄10 wave @ 0.6328 μm can be achieved reliably on spherical and aspheric surfaces, where it might not have been otherwise possible in the past with conventional manufacturing methods.
• The achievable surface figure will depend largely on the material, aspect ratio of the optic, the ability to test the surface figure and the holding of the optic without distortion while testing.
Glossary
Aspect ratio: Diameter-to-thickness ratio. An optic with a high aspect ratio makes it difficult to achieve tight surface figure specifications and is more expensive.
BBAR: Broadband antireflection optical coating
C: Celsius
CVD: Chemical vapor deposition
dn/dT: Thermo-optic coefficient which is the change in the index of refraction for a material with temperature per degree kelvin
DLC: Diamondlike carbon coating
DT: Diamond turning
Dispersion: Change of the index of refraction with wavelength
FIR: Far-infrared
FLIR: Forward-looking infrared
IR: Infrared
K: Kelvin
MRF: Magnetorheological finishing
MWIR: Mid-wave infrared region of the spectral band from 3 to 5 μm
NIR: Near-infrared region of the spectral band from 0.75 to 3 μm
LWIR: Long-wave infrared region of the spectral band from 5 to 14 μm
Scratch-dig: A surface finish specification applying to the polishing process, where the “scratch” refers to allowable scratch width on the polished surface in microns. A “dig” is a defect in the polished surface resulting from the polishing process and refers to the maximum allowable diameter of the imperfection in microns. The dig specification is also commonly applied to inclusions or impurities within a visibly transparent material, and coating imperfections. Diamond-turned surface finishes, however, are expressed as surface roughness in angstroms root mean squared (Å rms) rather than scratch-dig, because the single-point diamond-turning process does not produce the random scratches and digs that result from the polishing process.
SPDT: Single-point diamond turning
Surface figure: Commonly referred to as irregularity of the surface and usually expressed in fringes or waves at the test wavelength. In the optical design, careful consideration should be given when specifying the surface figure as it relates to the materials, wavelength of use, diameter, the aspect ratio and the geometry of the lens.
UV: For the purposes of this discussion, wavelengths from 0.1 to 0.4 μm. (The ultraviolet region actually goes down
to 0.001 μm).
VIS: The visible region of the spectral band from 0.4 to 0.75 μm.