STUDY OF PREPARATION TECHNIQUES OR LARGE BULK FLUORIDE COMPONENTS

BULK GLASS COMPONENTS PREPARED FROM FLUORIDE GLASSES SUCH ASWINDOWS, LENSES AND DOMES EXHIBIT BROAD BAND LOW LOSS TRANSMISSION FROM NEAR UV TO MID IR WAVELENGTHS. THE GOALS OF THE PROGRAM ARE TO DEVELOP A REPRODUCEABLE PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF HIGH PURITY FLUORIDE GLASSES IN BULK FORM. AN ADDITIONAL GOAL IS THE PREPARATION OF HIGH QUALITY DEVITRIFICATION FREE LARGE COMPONENTS ON THE ORDER OF 10CM IN DIAMETER BY 1.5CM THICK THAT EXHIBIT HIGH BROAD SPECTRAL TRANSMISSION. THE GOALS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE PREPARATION OF DOPED FLUORIDE GLASSES IN A CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT USING A BARIUM, LANTHANUM, ALUMINUM, FLUOROZIRCONATE AS THE BASE COMPOSITION. APPROXIMATELY 24 EXPERIMENTAL MELTS WILL BE PREPARED IN A UNIQUELY DESIGNED CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE CHAMBER. APPROXIMATELY 1,200 MANHOURS WILL BE REQUIRED FOR SUCCESSFULCOMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM.