Light Shaping Diffusers® for High Temperature Threshold Applications
If you’ve never heard the term sol-gel, you’re not alone, but in the world of materials science, sol-gel is a rock star. An abbreviation for Solution Gel, sol-gel is a well-documented method for creating solid materials from small molecules. By following the sol-gel processing method, scientists can add micro particles or molecules to a solution (sol), and those tiny particles eventually bond to form a gel. Sol-gel is instrumental here at Luminit because it allows us to create specialized optics, such as our high temperature glass diffusers and our hybrid Glass Diffusers that combine the latest advancements in sol-gel processing with our advanced capabilities in replicating micro- and nano-structures onto various substrates.
Glass Diffusers for Laser and Biomedical Applications
Similar to Luminit’s standard Light Shaping Diffusers, high temperature glass diffusers (technically referred to as Glass-on-Glass diffusers) include holographically recorded, randomized surface relief structures that manipulate light. Instead of being replicated on polycarbonate or polyester sheets, however, these structures are replicated in sol-gel directly on a float glass or UV silica substrate. The result is a more robust diffuser well suited for customers involved in laser, biomedical instrumentation, and other applications where high temperatures, laser power, and UV transmissions can have a negative impact on other surfaces. Our glass high temperature light diffusers have a high temperature threshold, high laser damage threshold and excellent UV transmission and transmission frequency (240nm and higher).
Luminit Glass-on-Glass Diffusers can withstand temperatures up to 500°C stable and have a high laser damage threshold.
What Are Hybrid Glass Diffusers?
Complementing the Glass-on-Glass Light Shaping Diffusers, Luminit Hybrid Glass Diffusers can be used in laser applications that require a higher temperature tolerance. These diffusers also have higher scratch resistance than polymer-based diffusers and can be made with a wide range of circular and elliptical FWHM angles, giving customers more flexibility. Our Hybrid Glass Diffusers offer up to 92% transmission and can be used with a wide range of optical glass substrates. Available in circular and elliptical diffusion angles as high as 80°, this glass diffuser for laser applications has proved to be very effective when incorporated into Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL) systems.
Luminit Hybrid Glass Diffusers can withstand temperatures of 150°C, have high temperature tolerance, and are available in various angles and sizes.
Our high temperature glass diffusers for laser applications are made to order and custom sizes are available. Keep in mind, however, that because these are highly customized Light Shaping Diffusers, lead times can be as high as 8 weeks. If you have a need for high temperature high damage threshold diffuser, contact us at sales@luminitco.com.