The
physical, chemical and optical properties of sapphire make it one of the most
versatile materials from which various types of windows can be fabricated. Natural sapphire is a gemstone variety of the
mineral corundum, or aluminum oxide (Al2O3), commonly referred to as alumina
(α-alumina) or aloxide, one of nature's most abundant compounds.
Because
it is a single crystal, neither natural nor synthetic sapphire can be molded,
drawn or cast. Synthetic sapphire,
however, can be "grown" into specific shapes to meet the requirements
of different applications. Synthetic sapphire is water clear and pure, making
it ideally suited for chemically resistant windows.
Here are some of the different types of
windows into which sapphire can be fabricated.
- Flat, transparent windows
- Plano convex and concave windows
- Brewster windows
- Sapphire wave plates
All of
these types of windows, when fabricated from sapphire, offer an outstanding
combination of strength, light weight and transparency.
Because
of their outstanding physical, chemical and optical properties, sapphire windows are often used in the most demanding military and aerospace
applications.
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