IR Material Selection Guide

IR Material Selection Guide

Summary

Complete IR material selection guide for thermal domes, laser windows, EO/IR gimbals, subsea sensors. Match wavelength, pressure, coating, environment and budget for your RFQ.

IR Material Selection Guide

Infrared Optical Material Selection Guide

For IR Domes, Protective Windows, Laser Windows & Thermal Lenses

This master selection guide summarizes all core infrared optical substrates: ZnS, ZnSe, Ge, Si, Sapphire, Fused Silica. It helps system engineers filter material by working wavelength, pressure, abrasion, temperature, coating requirement and budget before issuing RFQ drawings. The biggest root cause of project failure is grade mismatch, not just material name.

 Infrared optical material selection guide for IR dome, laser window and EO/IR gimbal systems

Decision Checklist Before You Choose Material

  • Working wavelength band: UV / Vis / NIR / MWIR / LWIR
  • Form: Dome / flat window / lens / blank
  • Environment: Subsea depth, airborne dust, temperature range
  • Coating requirement: BBAR, Laser AR, DLC hard coating
  • Pressure, mechanical shock, abrasion exposure
  • Budget and production quantity (prototype / mass)

Material Quick Reference Matrix

Material Primary Application
HIP Multispectral ZnS Visible + IR common-aperture gimbal dome
FLIR Grade ZnS Budget LWIR thermal dome
ZnSe (Laser Grade) 10.6μm CO₂ laser window / lens
ZnSe (IR Grade) LWIR thermal imaging optics
Germanium 8–14μm LWIR thermal objective lens
Silicon Mid-IR, high-temperature window
Sapphire Deep subsea dome, high abrasion window
Fused Silica UV laser, UV curing, instrument window

Critical Rule: Material Name ≠ Grade

Always specify grade inside your RFQ. “ZnS” alone is not enough; you must state FLIR Grade or HIP Multispectral Grade. “ZnSe” alone is ambiguous; IR grade or Laser grade must be clearly marked. Missing grade specification is the top cause of delayed samples and wrong parts.

FAQ

What should I include in my RFQ for IR optics?

Material grade, wavelength, drawing, clear aperture, surface quality, coating type, working environment and quantity.

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