Chalcogenide Glass

Chalcogenide infrared glass materials offer a cost-effective alternative to traditional infrared materials like Germanium (Ge), Zinc Selenide (ZnSe), and Zinc Sulfide (ZnS). They are ideal for mid-wave infrared (MWIR) and long-wave infrared (LWIR) applications, such as thermal imaging and infrared sensors, due to their good transmittance, low thermal change in refractive index (dn/dT), wide bandwidth, and effective dispersion. Chalcogenide glass can also be combined with other infrared materials in multi-element lens systems.

Chalcogenide glass is also very versatile as it can be molded, machined, and polished into various forms. It offers excellent refractive index uniformity and stability, providing chromatic aberration correction and minimizing thermal defocusing, especially in the 2-12 μm range. These properties make it suitable for applications in monitoring systems, marine equipment, fire protection, and law enforcement.

Vital Optics Technology (VOT) is a leading global supplier of chalcogenide glass products, with an annual production capacity exceeding 100,000 kg. VOT manufactures materials like Ge-As-Se, Ge-Sb-Se, As-Se, and As-S, which can be processed using standard machining techniques and coated with anti-reflective or diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings. VOT’s chalcogenide optical elements are designed to replace more expensive materials like Germanium and Zinc Selenide when cost, density, and thermal stability are key factors.

Material Cross-Reference

The link below provides a convenient material trade name cross-reference for common grades of chalcogenide glass.

VIG06

As₄₀Se₆₀

The most popular chalcogenide glass due to its excellent properties and low cost 

• Refractive Index at 10 mm: 2.7779
• Thermo-optic coefficient dn/dT (ppm/K): 30.9
• Transition Temperature: 185 °C

VIG01

As₃₀Se₆₃Sb₄Sn₃

• Refractive Index at 10 mm: 2.7678
• Thermo-optic coefficient dn/dT (ppm/K): 18.6
• Transition Temperature: 369 °C

VIG02

Ge₃₃As₁₂Se₅₅

• Refractive Index at 10 mm: 2.4962
• Thermo-optic coefficient dn/dT (ppm/K): 67
• Transition Temperature: 368 °C

VIG04

Ge₁₀As₄₀Se₅₀

• Refractive Index at 10 mm: 2.6084
• Thermo-optic coefficient dn/dT (ppm/K): 20
• Transition Temperature: 225 °C

VIG05

Ge₂₈Sb₁₂Se₆₀

• Refractive Index at 10 mm: 2.6019
• Thermo-optic coefficient dn/dT (ppm/K): 60.5
• Transition Temperature: 283 °C

VIG07

Ge₂₀Sb₁₅Se₆₅

• Refractive Index at 10 mm: 2.5851
• Thermo-optic coefficient dn/dT (ppm/K): 37
• Transition Temperature: 272 °C

VIG08

Ge₂₂As₂₀Se₅₈

• Refractive Index at 10 mm: 2.4946
• Thermo-optic coefficient dn/dT (ppm/K): 58.2
• Transition Temperature: 286 °C

VIG09

• Refractive Index at 10 mm: 3.1542
• Thermo-optic coefficient dn/dT (ppm/K): 166
• Transition Temperature: 190 °C

Chalcogenide infrared glass materials offer a cost-effective alternative to traditional infrared materials like Germanium (Ge), Zinc Selenide (ZnSe), and Zinc Sulfide (ZnS). They are ideal for mid-wave infrared (MWIR) and long-wave infrared (LWIR) applications, such as thermal imaging and infrared sensors, due to their good transmittance, low thermal change in refractive index (dn/dT), wide bandwidth, and effective dispersion. Chalcogenide glass can also be combined with other infrared materials in multi-element lens systems.