Each substrate material has some numerous advantages and disadvantages compared to the others. GaAs is a very tough and durable material which is useful as a protective window in laser material processing where abrasive debris particles are expected. BaF₂ has a wide transmission that extends from IR, through the visible spectrum, into deep ultraviolet (UV) without the need for an anti-reflection (AR) coating. BaF₂ can also be used in environments with temperatures up to 800 °C. CdTe features a broad, flat transmission spectrum from IR to longwave IR (LWIR) and are useful with low power CO₂ laser systems or for spectroscopy applications.

KRS-5 windows feature flat transmission from IR to far IR and with resistance to chemicals (except strong acids) making them useful as protective windows for acid-sensitive applications and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectroscopy. With a wavelength range from deep UV to medium wave IR (MWIR), LiF windows are excellent for use in thermal imaging applications or in X-ray spectrometry. AMTIR-1 features excellent resistance to acids, do not experience thermal runaway, and can be used in temperatures up to 300 °C, making them ideal for use as protective windows for IR and forward-looking infrared (FLIR) imaging systems or IR laser systems.

To view Edmund Optics’ full IR window offering, visit www.edmundoptics.eu/ir-windows.