Knight Optical’s Sapphire Windows for High-Pressure Underwater Cameras

13 Sep 2020

Knight Optical offer a range of Stock Sapphire Windows, for use within High-Pressure Underwater Camera applications.

We supply a range of Sapphire Optics for a variety of applications – all individually QA checked and metrology tested for quality to ensure parts meet customers’ specifications. What’s more, our Sapphire Windows are supplied in a range of sizes and shapes with custom coatings tailored to meet your individual applications.

Sapphire (Al₂O₃) is one of the hardest minerals and optical materials available for use from ultraviolet (UV) up to 5µm, making it ideal as a protective window for camera systems.

Sapphire is grown by various methods from seed samples. It can be polished to a high standard, but as it is the second hardest mineral on earth, it must be subject to high forces to polish. Sapphire is inert and resistant to attack from most processing environments, such as hydrofluoric acid. Sapphire has a melting point over 2000°C, and with a high thermal conductivity it’s suitable for use in harsh environments.

The benefit of using Sapphire over other materials for high-pressure underwater cameras is that it can be offered up to 65% thinner than Fused Silica Windows and is significantly more scratch-resistant.

We hold a large inventory of Random Cut and C-Cut Sapphire Windows.

Stock sizes from 5mm to 300mm diameter; between 0.5mm – 15mm-thick
Custom shapes and sizes available to quotation
Edging down to smaller diameters, square and rectangular apertures.

Typical specs:

Material:                                          Sapphire (Al₂O₃) Random and C-Cut Grades
Diameter tolerance:                       +0.0/-0.20 mm
Length/width tolerance:              +/- 0.10mm
Thickness tolerance:                     +/-0.10mm
Wavelength range:                      0.17 – 5.5µm
Transmission:                                  Tavg=85% dependant on substrate thickness
Coatings:                                             Anti-Reflective (AR) coating options available.

All our Sapphire Windows are fully inspected on their quality in our ISO 9001-certified, state-of-the-art Metrology laboratory, using our FIBSA, and Trioptic Prism Master. This allows us to work to the highest QA standards and meet the tolerance specifications on these precision components.

Contact our technical sales team to discover how Knight Optical’s high-quality Sapphire Windows and superior service can improve your instrumentation and supply chain experience.

UK, Europe, Asia & RoW: E-Mail info@knightoptical.co.uk Tel +44 (0)1622 859444

USA & Canada: E-Mail usasales@knightoptical.com Tel +001 401-583-7846