English 
Views: 8 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2023-05-11 Origin: Site
Table of Contents
1. Introduction to Infrared Optical Materials
2. Classification of Infrared Optical Materials
2.1 By Composition and Morphology
2.2 By Transmission Band
3. Characteristics of Infrared Optical Materials
4. Common Infrared Optical Materials
4.1 Calcium Fluoride (CaF₂)
4.2 Zinc Selenide (ZnSe)
4.3 Zinc Sulfide (ZnS)
5. Applications in Optical Systems
6. Conclusion
Infrared optical materials are essential components for manufacturing lenses, prisms, windows, filters, and other elements used in infrared systems. They include semiconductor and dielectric materials such as alkali halide compounds, oxides, and certain inorganic salts.
Infrared materials can be categorized into five types:
Crystal
Hot-pressed polycrystalline
Transparent ceramics
Glass
Plastic
Medium-wave infrared materials (MWIR): Cover short-wave and medium-wave atmospheric windows.
Long-wave infrared materials (LWIR): Cover the long-wave atmospheric window (8–12 μm), ideal for detecting radiation from objects near room temperature.
High Cost – Often priced from thousands to tens of thousands of yuan per kilogram.
Thermal Sensitivity – Some materials have large refractive index temperature coefficients, requiring thermal compensation in wide-temperature-range applications.
Fragility – Many are brittle, chemically unstable, and difficult to process.
Opacity in Visible Range – They may appear colored depending on wavelength and material type.
Thermal Emission – Heated materials can emit infrared radiation, introducing stray light.
Used for prisms, lenses, and large-aperture windows.
Excellent chromatic correction properties.
Slightly high price and processing cost.
High transmittance in LWIR, excellent for CO₂ laser optics.
Resistant to thermal shock, but softer and prone to scratches.
Available in multispectral grades for both visible and infrared use.
High durability and suitable for harsh environments.
Infrared optical materials are used in:
Thermal imagers
Night vision devices
Infrared cameras
Drone monitoring systems
Infrared sighting and targeting devices
Selecting the right infrared optical material is critical for performance and durability. With advancements in material processing, modern infrared systems can achieve higher transmission, stability, and reliability across a range of environmental conditions.
