Sapphire Windows | Al2O3 Single Crystal Viewports & Optical Lens
Industrial Sapphire windows (Single Crystal Al2O3) for extreme pressure & temperature (up to 2000°C). Superior UV/IR transmission and Mohs 9 hardness. Download Datasheet.
Description
Sapphire Windows (Single Crystal Al2O3)
Lumiglas Sapphire windows are manufactured from high-purity single crystal aluminum oxide (Al2O3). As the hardest oxide crystal known (Mohs 9), sapphire is virtually scratch-proof and resistant to extreme chemical attack, including hydrofluoric acid.
Engineered for the most demanding environments, our industrial sapphire viewports offer a unique combination of broad optical transmission (from UV to Mid-IR) and extreme mechanical strength, making them the ideal solution for high-pressure vessels, vacuum chambers, and high-temperature furnaces up to 2000°C.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | Specification Details |
|---|---|
| Chemical Formula | Al2O3 (Single Crystal) |
| Melting Point | 2040°C |
| Hardness (Mohs / Knoop) | Mohs 9 / Knoop 2000 (Second only to diamond) |
| Transmission Range | 150 nm (UV) to 5.5 µm (IR) |
| Flexural Strength | 800 – 1000 MPa (Dependent on crystal orientation) |
| Thermal Conductivity | 27.2 W/m·K (@ 300K) |
| Refractive Index | 1.768 (@ 589 nm) |
| Acid/Alkali Resistance | Excellent (Inert to HF, H3PO4, and strong alkalis) |
Industrial Applications
- High Pressure Viewports: Subsea and oil & gas exploration equipment requiring extreme burst pressure limits.
- Optical Systems: UV and IR sensor windows, laser lenses, and analytical instrumentation.
- Harsh Environments: Sight windows for chemical reactors involving hydrofluoric acid or fluorine plasma.
- High Temperature: Furnace observation windows operating above 1000°C.
Why Choose Sapphire over Quartz?
While fused quartz is excellent for thermal shock, Sapphire windows offer superior mechanical strength and hardness. Sapphire is approximately 10 times more scratch-resistant than glass and can withstand significantly higher internal pressures. Furthermore, Sapphire is the only optical material that remains inert when exposed to hot hydrofluoric acid (HF), where quartz would rapidly dissolve.
