Materials>>CaF2

CALCIUM FLUORIDE(CaF2) OPTICS

Alkor Technologies manufactures custom Calcium Fluoride optical components for Ultraviolet and Infrared Laser: CaF2 lenses, CaF2 windows, CaF2 prisms, CaF2 wedges. A vacuum UV grade (VUV) CaF2 is also available upon request.

Maximum dimensions of CaF2 optics: Diameter 220mm, Thickness 40mm. Please contact us for more information.

CaF2 transmission. Thickness 10mm.

Calcium Fluoride is used for optical windows, lenses and prisms in transmision range 0.15-9mkm. Degradation due to to moisture in the atmosphere is minimal, and polished surfaces of the CaF2 windows may be expected to withstand several years exposure to normal atmospheric conditions.

Since they are nonaxial, CaF2 crystals do not require consideration of axial direction. Because of CaF2 low refractive index, Calcium Fluoride windows can be used without an anti-reflection coating.

Calcium Fluoride is attacked by atmospheric moisture at 600°C, where it begins to soften. The top use temperature is 800C, when moisture is not present. Irradiation of Calcium Fluoride causes some loss in UV transmission. CaF2 is sensitive to thermal shock.

Main properties:

Chemical Formula CaF2
Crystal Class Cubic, cleaves [111] plane
Lattice Constant, Å 5.46
Density, g/cm3 (20 °C) 3.18
Molecular Weight 78.08
Dielectric Constant for 105 Hz 6.76
Melting Temperature, K 1630
Thermal Conductivity, W/(m K) at 273 K 10
Thermal Expansion, 1/K at 300 K 18.9 x 10-6
Specific Heat, cal/(g K) at 273 K 0.204
Debye Temperature, K 510
Young's Modulus, GPa 75.79
Rupture Modulus, GPa 0.0365
Shear Modulus, GPa 33.76
Bulk Modulus, GPa 83.03
Poisson's Ratio 0.28
Knoop Hardness, kg/mm2 178 [100], 160 [110]
 

Refractive Index

Wavelength, mkm 0.19 0.21 0.25 0.33 0.41 0.88 2.65 3.90 5.00 6.20 7.00 8.22
Refractive Index 1.51 1.49 1.47 1.45 1.44 1.43 1.42 1.41 1.40 1.38 1.36 1.34