| abstract |
A selenide glass with improved mechanical and optical properties such as extended transmission in the infrared region of radiation having wavelengths beyond 15 microns; Tg in the region of 363 DEG -394 DEG C.; and thermal stability of 85 DEG -145 DEG C. based on the difference between Tg and Tx, comprising, on mol basis, 20-70% germanium selenide, 0.5-25% gallium selenide, indium selenide or mixtures thereof; and 5-50% of at least one alkaline earth in selenide form is described. A process for improving mechanical and optical properties of a selenide glass based on germanium selenide comprises the steps of mixing glass components, including a modifier in elemental or selenide form; melting the glass components to form a molten mixture; cooling the molten glass mixture to a solid state; annealing the solid glass; and cooling the annealed glass to about room temperature is also described. The glass components can be in elemental form or in the form of selenides, and if in elemental form, then sufficient amount of selenium is added to form selenides of the glass components. |