ANTGLASS supplies and processes Germanium Optical Material for optical, electronic, laboratory and industrial components made to customer drawings.
Material Overview
Germanium Ge: Infrared semiconductor crystal. The material system is described as Infrared semiconductor 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 LWIR thermal imaging, night vision, spectroscopy, detector 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 | Infrared semiconductor crystal |
| Transmission | 1.8-23 um |
| Density | 5.32 g/cm3 |
| Thermal expansion | 5.7 x 10^-6/C at 20 C |
| Hardness | Knoop 692 |
| Thermal conductivity | 59 W/mC at 20 C |
| Chemical resistance | Grade-specific; use manufacturer chemical-resistance data |
| Starting form | Windows, lenses, ATR prisms and filter substrates |
Available Forms and Custom Processing
Common starting and finished forms include Windows, lenses, ATR prisms and filter substrates, 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 Infrared Optical Windows, Custom-Shaped Precision Glass Parts. 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
- LWIR thermal imaging
- night vision
- spectroscopy
- detector windows
Material Comparison and Alternatives
Compare Germanium 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.
Related Products
Related Materials
- Zinc Selenide (ZnSe) Optical Material
- Sapphire Optical Material
- Calcium Fluoride (CaF2) Optical Material
Related Solutions
Frequently Asked Questions About Germanium Optical Material
What are the key properties of Germanium Optical Material?
Germanium Optical Material is selected from grade-specific optical, thermal, mechanical and chemical data. Published references include Material type: Infrared semiconductor crystal; Transmission: 1.8-23 um; Density: 5.32 g/cm3; Thermal expansion: 5.7 x 10^-6/C at 20 C. The finished component must also meet the drawing, surface and inspection requirements.
Can ANTGLASS supply and process germanium optical material in custom sizes?
Yes. ANTGLASS supplies and processes Germanium Optical Material as Windows, lenses, ATR prisms and filter substrates, 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 Germanium Optical Material?
Typical product connections include Infrared Optical Windows, Custom-Shaped Precision Glass Parts. The exact product form, dimensions, edge condition, optical zone and packaging are defined by the customer drawing and application.
How is Germanium 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 Germanium 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