Infrared Crystals - Barium Fluoride Glass

Infrared Crystals – Barium Fluoride Glass

Infrared Crystals — Barium Fluoride (BaF₂) Windows & Lenses

High-purity Barium Fluoride (BaF₂) infrared crystals for precision windows, lenses and prisms — offering broad UV→mid-IR transmission (≈0.15–12 µm), low dispersion for reduced chromatic aberration, strong throughput at CO₂ laser bands, and high optical homogeneity for spectroscopy, thermal imaging and laser applications.

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Description

BaF2 crystal has good optical transmittance and can be used as an ultraviolet and infrared optical window in the spectral range of 0.15um-12.5um. At the same time, it has excellent scintillation performance and has become an important crystal material in the fields of high-energy physics, nuclear physics, and nuclear medicine.

Key benefits

  • Broad UV  — IR transmission (deep-UV through mid-IR).

  • Low refractive index and low dispersion — helps reduce chromatic aberration in multispectral optics.

  • Good IR throughput at CO₂ laser wavelengths and mid-IR bands.

  • Radiation resistance (useful in high-energy environments) and good optical homogeneity.

  • Available in polished or diamond-turned finishes, with AR coatings and custom sizes/edgework.

Why choose BaF₂ for IR optics

Choose BaF₂ when you need a single substrate that spans from the UV into the mid-IR with low dispersion and good transmission at common IR laser and spectroscopy bands. It is frequently selected for IR windows, spectrometer optics and laser beam delivery where throughput and spectral coverage are priorities. However, because BaF₂ is mechanically softer (lower hardness) and more sensitive to moisture/thermal shock than some oxides/fluorides, design for protective mounting and appropriate environmental handling is recommended.

Typical technical specifications

Density (g/cm3) 4.89
Transmittance range (μm) 0.15~12.5
Refractive index (2.58 μm) 1.4626
Reflection loss (2.58 μm) 6.8% ( both faces )
Radiation length (cm) 2.06
Emission Peak (nm) 310(slow);220(fast )
Attenuation Constant (ns) 620(slow);0.6( fast )
Light output relative to Nal [Nal(TI)=100%] 20%(slow);4%( fast )
K-hardness(kg/mm2) 82 with 500g indenter
Solubility at 23°C (g/100gH20) 0.17
Cleavage planes ( 111)
Melting point (°C) 1280
Transmittance >90%( 0.35~9μm,3mm)

Applications & industries

  • UV & IR spectroscopy and photometry.

  • Thermal / MWIR imaging windows and camera optics.

  • CO₂-laser optics and beam delivery (10.6 μm).

  • Multispectral imaging systems and scientific instrumentation.

  • Research labs, OEM IR instruments and high-energy / radiation environments.

Downloads

Barium Fluoride Glass— Datasheet (PDF):BARIUM FLURIDE GLASS

 

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