Recent advances in ALON optical ceramic

Joseph M. Wahl; Thomas M. Hartnett; Lee M. Goldman; Richard Twedt; Charles Warner

doi:10.1117/12.607589

18 May 2005 Recent advances in ALON optical ceramic

Joseph M. Wahl, Thomas M. Hartnett, Lee M. Goldman, Richard Twedt, Charles Warner

Proceedings Volume 5786, Window and Dome Technologies and Materials IX; (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.607589
Event: Defense and Security, 2005, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

Aluminum Oxynitride (ALON^TM Optical Ceramic) is a transparent ceramic material which combines transparency from the UV to the MWIR with excellent mechanical properties. ALON’s optical and mechanical properties are isotropic by virtue of its cubic crystalline structure. Consequently, ALON is transparent in its polycrystalline form and can be made by conventional powder processing techniques. This combination of properties and manufacturability make ALON suitable for a range of applications from IR windows, domes and lenses to transparent armor. The technology for producing transparent ALON was developed at Raytheon and has been transferred to Surmet Corporation where it is currently in production. Surmet is currently selling ALON into a number of military (e.g., windows and domes) and commercial (e.g., supermarket scanner windows) applications. The capability to manufacture large ALON windows for both sensor window and armor applications is in place. ALON windows up to 20x30 inches have been fabricated. In addition, the capability to shape and polish these large and curved windows is being developed and demonstrated at Surmet. Complex shapes, both hyper-hemispherical and conformal, are also under development and will be described.

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Joseph M. Wahl, Thomas M. Hartnett, Lee M. Goldman, Richard Twedt, and Charles Warner "Recent advances in ALON optical ceramic", Proc. SPIE 5786, Window and Dome Technologies and Materials IX, (18 May 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.607589

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