Best material for IR transparency in the 7.5 - 13.5 micrometer range
Best material for IR transparency in the 7.5 - 13.5 micrometer range
(OP)
I want to build a camera gimbal dome to cover a flir Tau IR camera (7.5-13.5 micrometer band, or Long Wavelength IR) as well as a visible spectrum camera.
What would be a good polymer to use for such an application, taking factors such as impact resistance and manufacturing difficulty into account?
Thank you in advance.
Michael
What would be a good polymer to use for such an application, taking factors such as impact resistance and manufacturing difficulty into account?
Thank you in advance.
Michael
------------------------------------------
Here's looking at you, looking at me, looking at you





RE: Best material for IR transparency in the 7.5 - 13.5 micrometer range
TTFN

FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
Need help writing a question or understanding a reply? forum1529: Translation Assistance for Engineers
Of course I can. I can do anything. I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!
RE: Best material for IR transparency in the 7.5 - 13.5 micrometer range
Am I correct in saying that perspex is out of the question, but polycarbonate might also work?
Michael
------------------------------------------
Here's looking at you, looking at me, looking at you
RE: Best material for IR transparency in the 7.5 - 13.5 micrometer range
Your recommendations are for IR only, correct? They do not seem like good ones for visible spectrum transparency.
Michael,
In general, polycarbonate would be favored in these types of applications due to its high impact resistance, while acrylic (PMMA, Perspex) has poor impact resistance.
RE: Best material for IR transparency in the 7.5 - 13.5 micrometer range
So, Michael, perhaps you can clarify whether you intend to be able to see through the "dome."
If so, your cost probably grew by a couple orders of magnitude. Most polymers that are "transparent" in the LWIR are not particularly transparent in the visible. Zinc Selenide is pretty much the only crystalline material usable in the visible and LWIR, but there is some "color" to its visible transmissivity.
TTFN

FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
Need help writing a question or understanding a reply? forum1529: Translation Assistance for Engineers
Of course I can. I can do anything. I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!