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Optical Material

Sapphire (Al₂O₃)

Sapphire is a single-crystal form of aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) with extraordinary mechanical, thermal and optical properties. Its extreme hardness and broad transmission make it the material of choice for demanding environments where durability matters.

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Key Optical Properties

Property Value
Transmission Range 170 nm – 5.5 μm
Refractive Index 1.768 @ 587.6nm (ordinary)
Thermal Expansion 5.3 × 10⁻⁶ /K (20-300°C)
Density 3.97 g/cm³
Knoop Hardness 2200 HK

Advantages

  • Extremely hard and scratch-resistant (2nd only to diamond)
  • Very broad transmission (UV to mid-IR)
  • Excellent thermal conductivity
  • High melting point (2040°C)
  • Chemically inert and biocompatible
  • Excellent abrasion and wear resistance

Limitations

  • Birefringent material (not isotropic)
  • Higher cost than glass materials
  • Difficult to process and polish
  • High refractive index requires good AR coating
  • Material size limitations for large optics

Typical Applications

Extreme-environment windows

Medical and dental optics

Aerospace and defense systems

High-pressure and vacuum systems

Wear-resistant optical surfaces

Common Coating Options

Standard coating types available for this material. Custom coating designs available on request.

Broadband AR (UV-VIS-NIR)
Mid-wave IR AR coatings
Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC)
Anti-reflection for multi-band use
High-temperature resistant coatings

Products Using Sapphire

Browse our catalog of precision optical components available in Sapphire

Windows

Sapphire Circular/Square Windows

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