ANTGLASS supplies and processes Calcium Fluoride (CaF2) Optical Material for optical, electronic, laboratory and industrial components made to customer drawings.
Material Overview
Calcium Fluoride CaF2: Cubic fluoride crystal. The material system is described as Cubic fluoride crystal. Selection begins with the exact grade, wavelength or optical function, thermal and chemical environment, starting form, finished geometry and inspection method. The material record is kept separate from the finished-part drawing so that grade data and manufacturing requirements remain traceable.
Applications associated with this material include UV excimer, spectroscopy, thermal imaging, broadband windows. ANTGLASS uses the approved material and drawing to manufacture blanks and finished parts rather than treating a published material property as a universal component guarantee.
Published Technical Properties
The values below are taken from the V4R2R2 source-linked material dataset. Conditions such as wavelength, temperature, thickness and orientation remain part of the value and should not be removed during comparison.
| Property | Published reference |
|---|---|
| Material type | Cubic fluoride crystal |
| Transmission | 0.13-10 um |
| Density | 3.18 g/cm3 |
| Thermal expansion | About 18.9 x 10^-6/K |
| Hardness | Knoop about 158 |
| Thermal conductivity | About 9.7 W/mK |
| Chemical resistance | Grade-specific; use manufacturer chemical-resistance data |
| Starting form | Windows, lenses, prisms and blanks |
Available Forms and Custom Processing
Common starting and finished forms include Windows, lenses, prisms and blanks, Cut blanks, Windows and plates, Discs, rings or wafers, Drawing-based finished components. Actual source size and thickness are matched to the order, while the finished component is controlled by the drawing.
- Drawing and material-grade review
- Blank preparation and geometry planning
- Material-specific diamond cutting and controlled grinding
- Optical polishing, coating preparation and clean packaging
ANTGLASS can manufacture related products including Laser Windows, Infrared Optical Windows, Precision Optical Glass Windows. Projects that need material selection, prototype validation, optical performance or harsh-environment review can also use the related solutions: Optical, Sensor & Machine Vision Glass, Glass Material Selection & Substitution.
Design Rules for a Manufacturable RFQ
- Define the wavelength band, crystal orientation where relevant, coating and environmental exposure.
- Dimension critical surfaces, edges, holes, slots and datums separately on the drawing.
- Identify optical, sealing, bonding, coated and cosmetic zones before quotation.
- Match inspection methods to the functional tolerance and surface requirement.
- State prototype and production quantities together with cleaning and packaging needs.
Quality Risks and Inspection
Specialty optical materials can be soft, brittle, anisotropic, moisture-sensitive or temperature-sensitive. Use a material-specific machining, coating, cleaning and mounting design.
- Material identity and source documentation
- Dimensions, thickness and feature position
- Clear aperture, scratch-dig or cosmetic zone and transmitted-light inspection
- Edge chips, cracks and surface condition
- Cleaning, orientation and protective packaging
Applications and Product Connections
- UV excimer
- spectroscopy
- thermal imaging
- broadband windows
Material Comparison and Alternatives
Compare Calcium Fluoride (CaF2) Optical Material with Fused silica for UV-visible, sapphire for harsh windows, chalcogenide glass for molded IR optics.. Substitution should preserve the functional wavelength, refractive or spectral behavior, thermal expansion, temperature range, chemical durability, mechanical behavior, starting form and component cost.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Calcium Fluoride (CaF2) Optical Material
What are the key properties of Calcium Fluoride (CaF2) Optical Material?
Calcium Fluoride (CaF2) Optical Material is selected from grade-specific optical, thermal, mechanical and chemical data. Published references include Material type: Cubic fluoride crystal; Transmission: 0.13-10 um; Density: 3.18 g/cm3; Thermal expansion: About 18.9 x 10^-6/K. The finished component must also meet the drawing, surface and inspection requirements.
Can ANTGLASS supply and process calcium fluoride optical material in custom sizes?
Yes. ANTGLASS supplies and processes Calcium Fluoride (CaF2) Optical Material as Windows, lenses, prisms and blanks, Cut blanks, Windows and plates, Discs, rings or wafers, Drawing-based finished components, subject to the selected starting form and drawing. We cut, machine, drill, grind, lap, polish, clean and inspect the material as required for the component.
Which products can be made from Calcium Fluoride (CaF2) Optical Material?
Typical product connections include Laser Windows, Infrared Optical Windows, Precision Optical Glass Windows. The exact product form, dimensions, edge condition, optical zone and packaging are defined by the customer drawing and application.
How is Calcium Fluoride (CaF2) Optical Material machined and inspected?
The route is selected from material behavior, thickness, geometry and surface requirements. Inspection covers material identity, dimensions, edges and the functional surface; optical or substrate projects can add clear-aperture, flatness, TTV, surface-quality or spectral checks.
What materials should be compared with Calcium Fluoride (CaF2) Optical Material?
Common comparison directions include Fused silica for UV-visible, sapphire for harsh windows, chalcogenide glass for molded IR optics.. Compare the exact grades by wavelength, refractive index or transmission, CTE, temperature, chemical resistance, durability, starting form and total component cost.
Request a Material and Drawing Review
Provide the exact grade or target properties, drawing, dimensions, critical surfaces, operating conditions, quantity and inspection requirements. ANTGLASS will review the material, starting form and process route together.
- Exact material grade or target properties
- Drawing, dimensions, thickness and critical tolerances
- Wavelength, temperature, chemical and mechanical environment
- Surface quality, flatness, TTV, coating or sealing requirements
- Prototype and production quantities
- Inspection, cleaning, traceability and packaging requirements