Infrared Thin Film Coating

At Reynard Corporation we are proud of possessing over 30 years of manufacturing experience, supplying the highest quality optical components and coating services to the aerospace, military and commercial markets. Our experience in the Infrared (IR) and Far Infrared (FIR) areas covers a vast and increasing range of components and services, including Infrared and Far Infrared thin film coatings. FIR and IR coating can be applied to substrates supplied by Reynard Corporation or substrates provided by the customer to create essentially the same range of optical filters that exist in the Visible bands.

Thin film coatings are extremely thin layers of materials (such as TiO2, SiO2, MgF2, gold, aluminum etc…), which can be applied to the surface of a substrate like glass, metal or germanium, to effect a change in its optical properties. Effects such as reflection, refraction, anti reflection and conductivity can be produced and modified by expert calibration of the number of layers and the respective thicknesses of the thin film coatings in relation to the incidental wavelengths of light.
 

Examples of Infrared (IR) and Far Infrared (FIAR) Coatings:

• Longwave Pass (LWP) Infrared Filter Coatings: Created by application of a thin film coating to a suitable substrate, infrared longwave pass filters are designed to transmit wavelengths longer than 50% of the "cut on" values and to reflect the shorter wavelengths. These filters are optimized for zero degrees angle of incidence. The transmission rate is typically above 85% and the reflectance rate is greater than 98%.
• Shortwave Pass (SWP) Infrared Filters: Created by the application of a thin film coating to a suitable substrate, infrared shortwave pass filters are designed to transmit wavelengths shorter than 50% of the "cut off" values and to reflect the longer wavelengths. These filters are optimized for zero degrees angle of incidence. The transmission rate is typically above 85% and the reflectance rate is greater than 98%.
• Far Infrared Anti Reflection Coating (FIAR): The far infrared anti reflection coating will have less than 1% absolute reflection from 8 to 12 microns on an infrared substrate. It can be applied to silicon, germanium, zinc sulfide, zinc selenide and other infrared substrates.
• Protected Aluminum Coating: Protected aluminum mirrors are coated with aluminum and then protected with silicon monoxide, resulting in a mirror with a reflectance of over 96% in the far infrared (FIR). These mirrors meet all requirements of MIL-M-13508.
• Bare Gold Coating: The bare gold coating is a broadband high reflector in the near infrared (NIR) and far infrared (FIR). It has a reflectivity of over 98% in the infrared.
• Protected Second Surface Silver Coating: The protected second surface silver coating has a reflectivity of over 97% in the far infrared (FIR). It is used for internal reflection in prisms and mirrors.
• IR Blockers:  IR Blockers: These filters are designed to block IR wavelengths by reflecting or by absorption or possible a combination of both techniques. Blocking by reflection is accomplished by placing a quarter wave optical stack where blocking is needed. Blocking by absorption is accomplished by using dielectric materials that absorbing at the desired wavelengths and/or using substrate materials that absorb at the desired wavelengths. These filters are typically supplied on a custom bases.

Available substrates include:

• Alon
• BK-7 (borosilicate crown glass)
• Calcium Fluoride (CaF2)
• Fused Silica
• Germanium (GE)
• KRS5 ( Thallium Bromo-Iodide)
• Sapphire
• Magnesium Fluoride (MgF2)
• Silicon (Si)
• Zinc Selenide (ZnSe)
• Zinc Sulfide (ZnS)
• Or as provided by the customer.

Coating materials include:

• Copper (Cu)
• Gold
• Hafnium Oxide (HfO2)
• ITO (Indium Tin Oxide)
• Magnesium Oxide (MgO)
• Nickel (Ni)
• Silicon Monoxide (SiO)
• Silver
• Titanium Dioxide (TiO2)
• Tantalum Oxide (Ta2O5)
• Zirconium Oxide (ZrO2)
• And many more…

Custom FIR and IR coating services:

At Reynard, over 80% of our business is custom. FIR and IR coating can be engineered and customized for your particular application, and we also have one of the largest and most comprehensive selection of standard and stock precision optical components in the world. Reynard Corporation is the leading global supplier of optical components to the aerospace, commercial and military markets. We take pride in meeting and exceeding our customers' expectations in concept, design, engineering and fabrication.

Our thin film coating facility has 21 vacuum chambers, ranging from an 18" bell jar to a 54" fully automatic box coaters, all in a 4000 square foot Class 1000 clean room. Processes include electron beam, ion assisted and resistance source deposition. We have the capability to coat virtually any size and shape up to and including substrates 50" in diameter.

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Reynard Corporation operates per Military Specification Mil-I-45208A.