Types of optical glass

Types of optical glass

       As an older material, glass can be used not only in the fields of architecture and art, but also in medical treatment and instrumentation. Different types of glass have different characteristics and must be paid attention to when using them. However, most people don't know enough about glass, which often causes some misunderstandings and troubles.

What are the different types of optical glass

1. Colorless optical glass
       There are specific requirements for optical constants, and it has the characteristics of high transmittance in the visible region and no selective absorption and coloring. According to the size of Abbe number, it is divided into coronal type and flint type glass, and each type is divided into several types according to the refractive index, and they are arranged in order according to the refractive index. Mostly used as lenses, prisms, and mirrors for telescopes, microscopes, cameras, etc.
2. Anti-radiation optical glass
       It has a large absorption capacity for high-energy radiation. There are high-lead glass and CaO-B2O2 system glass. The former can prevent γ-ray and X-ray radiation, and the latter can absorb slow neutrons and thermal neutrons. It is mainly used in the nuclear industry. , Medical field, etc. as shielding and peeping window materials.

3. Irradiation resistant optical glass

       Under certain γ-ray and X-ray irradiation, the transmittance in the visible area changes less. The variety and brand are the same as colorless optical glass, which is used to manufacture optical instruments and peep windows under high-energy irradiation.

4. Colored optical glass

       Also known as filter glass. It has selective absorption and transmission performance for specific wavelengths in the ultraviolet, visible and infrared regions. According to the spectral characteristics, it is divided into three types: selective absorption, cut-off and neutral gray; according to the coloring mechanism, it is divided into ion coloring, metal colloid coloring and sulfur selenium Three types of chemical coloring, mainly used to make filters.

5. Ultraviolet and infrared optical glass

      It has a specific optical constant and high transmittance in the ultraviolet or infrared band, and is used as an ultraviolet or infrared optical instrument or as a window material.

6. Optical quartz glass

      With silica as the main component, it has the characteristics of high temperature resistance, low expansion coefficient, high mechanical strength, and good chemical properties. It is used to manufacture prisms, lenses, windows and mirrors with special requirements for transmission of various wavelengths. In addition, there are also photomasks, liquid crystal display panels, and thin-plate glass used in the manufacture of large-scale integrated circuits; magneto-optical glass in which the polarization plane rotates when light passes through the glass along the direction of magnetic force; light passes through in a certain direction Acousto-optic glass with light diffraction, reflection, convergence or light frequency shift occurs when ultrasonic glass is used.