Knight Optical’s Custom-Made Sapphire Lenses

05 Jul 2021

With a high transmission – from 150nm up to around 5µm – Sapphire (Al₂O₃) is a popular substrate for applications working in the ultraviolet (UV), visible and infrared (IR) spectrum. It's not only the substrate's high transmission that makes it a sought-after material; its strength and hardness (HK1370kg/mm2) are second only to diamond, and it's thermal, chemical and scratch resistance make it highly desirable for applications operating in harsh conditions.

Sapphire's extreme hardness and strength make it an excellent choice for dirty environments or high-impact and high-pressure conditions. It's for this reason that Sapphire Lenses are specified for probes that are used to burrow deep under the earth's surface as well as for aerospace and aeronautical vehicles where they are subject to impact by high-speed debris. What's more, the material's high melting point – of over 2000°C – and high thermal conductivity makes it suitable for use in extremely hot environments (such as furnaces), and high-power laser applications (such as Er:YAG lasers).

Available from stock or – as with all our components – as custom-made optics for seamless integration with your project, our Sapphire Lenses meet a diverse range of requirements sought by a diverse range of systems. By opting for tailor-made optical components, you can specify the shape, size, substrate, optical coating and tolerances best suited to your project.

Typical specs:

Material: Sapphire (Al2O3) Random and C-Cut grades

Diameter tolerance: +0/-0.25mm

Thickness tolerance: ±0.2mm

Focal length tolerance: ±2%

Centration: < 5 arcminutes

Chamfer: 0.25 x 45˚

Surface quality: <60-40 Scratch/Dig

Wavelength range: 0.17-5.5µm

Transmission: Tavg=85% dependent on substrate thickness

Coatings: Antireflective (AR) coating options available

First-Class Quality

Quality is the driving force behind Knight Optical, and to ensure you profit from high-precision optics, we take the utmost care to ensure every component accurately meets your specifications. Offering unparalleled service, Knight Optical undertakes a full inspection of your optics from our ISO 9001:2015-certified, state-of-the-art Metrology Laboratory, followed by a meticulous visual examination by our dedicated QA department.

To discover how we can enhance your supply chain experience and to learn more about our stock and custom-made Sapphire Lenses, contact a member of our technical sales team today.

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