Infrared Transmitting Glass Composition for Thermal Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing infrared transmitting glasses are thermally unstable and costly due to narrow vitrification ranges and high Ge content, making them difficult to process and expensive for mass production.
Innovation Solution
A chalcogenide glass composition with 0 to 20% Ge, 0 to 40% Sb, 0 to 20% Bi, and 50 to 80% S+Se+Te, preferably 2 to 20% Ge, 5 to 35% Sb, 1 to 20% Bi, and 55 to 75% S+Se+Te, with optional Sn, Zn, In, Ga, and P to enhance vitrification and stability, while avoiding toxic substances like As, Cd, Tl, and Pb.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chalcogenide glasses with high Ge content are used to transmit infrared rays, then infrared transmission capability is improved, but cost increases and thermal stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the compositional parameters by reducing Ge content from traditional high levels to 3-20% and increasing Sb content to 40-70%, which fundamentally alters the glass network structure. This parameter change achieves both good infrared transmission (by maintaining chalcogenide glass properties) and improved thermal stability (through the specific Sb-rich composition that forms a more stable glass matrix), thereby resolving the contradiction between transmission capability and thermal stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite glass system combining multiple elements (Ge, Sb, Bi, S, Se, Te) in specific proportions. The composite nature allows the Sb-rich phase to provide thermal stability while the chalcogenide matrix maintains infrared transmission, resolving the contradiction by distributing functions across different compositional components rather than relying on high Ge content alone.
2Reliability
If chalcogenide glasses with high Ge content are used to transmit infrared rays, then infrared transmission capability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the compositional parameters by reducing Ge content to 3-20% and increasing Sb content to 40-70%, which directly reduces material cost since Sb is less expensive than Ge. This parameter change maintains infrared transmission capability through the chalcogenide glass structure while significantly lowering manufacturing cost, thereby resolving the contradiction between performance and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes expensive Ge-based materials with cheaper Sb-based chalcogenide glass composition. By using more abundant and less costly elements (Sb, S, Se, Te) in optimized proportions, the invention achieves comparable infrared transmission at lower material cost, resolving the contradiction between transmission capability and manufacturing cost.
3Manufacturing precision
If narrow vitrification range glasses are used, then specific glass properties are achieved, but processing difficulty increases due to thermal instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the compositional parameters to create a glass system with a wider vitrification range through the specific Sb-rich composition (40-70% Sb). This parameter change provides a broader processing window for manufacturing while maintaining control over glass properties, thereby resolving the contradiction between property control precision and processing ease by expanding the stable composition range.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a thermally stable and inexpensive infrared transmitting glass. An infrared transmitting glass containing, in % by mole, 0 to 20% Ge (exclusive of 0% and 20%), 0 to 40% Sb (exclusive of 0%), 0 to 20% Bi (exclusive of 0%), and 50 to 80% S+Se+Te.