Optical Sapphire is:
， A synthetic sapphire
， A duplication of natural sapphire chemically, physically and
optically, but without nature's contaminants or inclusions
， Water clear
， A triagonal, (hexagonal) crystal system
， A negative, uniaxial crystal
Major Advantages:
， Hardest natural substance next to diamond
， Much stronger than other optical materials
， Extreme surface hardness
， Highly resistant to scratching and abrasion
， Very wide optical transmission band from UV to near-IR
， Extremely high melt temperature
， High electrical resistance
， Chemically inert
， Totally unaffected by all chemicals except some very hot caustics
， High thermal conductivity for a non-conductor, even better than
copper at cryogenic temperatures
， High dielectric constant
Optical Properties:
， Refractive Indices:
， Ordinary Ray (No) (C-axis direction): 1.768
， Extraordinary Ray (Ne) (perpendicular to C-axis direction):
1.760
， Birefringence (Ne - No): 0.008
， Temperature Coefficient of Refractive Index: 13x10-6/＜C (@ 0.57
μm, 20＜C)
， Transmittance: >85% 0.3-4.0 μm (@ 0.1 mm thick) uncorrected
， Emissivity @ 3,4,5 μm: 16%, 25%, 70% (@500＜C)
， Absorption @ 0.66 mm @ 1600＜C: 0.1 - 0.2 cm-1
Mechanical Properties:
， Hardness (9 Mohs std): 2000 kg/mm2, Knoop
， Coefficient of friction: 0.14 (on steel)
， Young's Modulus: 400 GPa @ 20＜C
， Poisson's Ratio: 0.29
， Compressive Strength: 2.0 GPa
， Creep @ 100 Mpa, 1600＜C: 1.5x10-4/hr
， Fracture Toughness: 2.0 MPa (m?)
， Flexural Strength: 900 MPa
， Bulk Modulus: 2.4 GPa
， Shear Modulus: 175 GPa (Rigidity Modulus)
， Tensile Strength: 300 to 400 MPa
， Rupture Modulus: 65 - 100,000 psi
Electrical Properties:
， Bulk Resistivity: 1016 ohm-cm @ 25＜C, 1011 ohm-cm @ 500＜C
， Dielectric Strength: 48 kv/mm, (1.2kv/mil)
， Dielectric Constant 25＜C: 9.4 perpendicular to the c-axis, 11.6
parallel to the c-axis between 10Hz and 3x109 Hz
， Loss Tangent 25＜C:
3.0 - 8.6x10-5; between 10 Hz and 3x109 Hz
， Magnetic Susceptibility:
-0.21x10-6 to -0.25x10-6
Physical Properties:
， Density: 3.98 g/cm3, (0.143 lb/in3)
， Hardness: Knoop microindenter: 1800 FACE perpendicular to c-axis,
2200 FACE parallel to c-axis
， Young's Modulus: 400 GPa @ 20＜C
， Tensile Strength: 300 to 400 MPa
， Point Group; Symmetry:3 2/m; [C,1A3, 3A2, 3P]
， Lattice Dimensions: a = 4.748 Angstroms, c = 12.957 Angstroms
， Sound Speed: ~10 km/s
Chemical Properties:
， Non-porous, unlike alumina ceramics
， Unaffected by weathering
， Unaffected by hydration
， Virtually unaffected by any solvents or acids at room temperature.
(Some etching by hot phosphoric acid and strong caustics at temperatures
exceeding 600＜C - 800＜C)
Thermal Properties:
， Melting Point: ~2053＜C (3727＜F)
， Most properties useful to (maximum): ~1800＜C (3272＜F)
， Conductivity: 40 W/M＜K @ 298＜K
， Expansion @ 25＜C: 4.5x10-6/K-1 and @ 1000＜C: 9.0x10-6/K-1 (90＜
orientation)
， Specific Heat Capacity: 750 J/K at 300＜K
， Viscosity @ 2053＜C: 0.0584 Pa，s
Crystal Facts:
The angular relationship between the inherent optical axis of
the crystal and the required part is known as orientation. Typical
choices for part orientation are:
， Zero Degree: The direction of view is parallel to the optical
axis of the crystal
， 90 Degree: The direction of view is perpendicular to the optical
axis of the crystal
， C-Axis: In a rod, the direction along its length. In a window,
the direction perpendicular to the face
， M-Plane: The plane containing the optic axis (C) and inclined
30 degrees to the A-axis
， A-Plane: The plane that is perpendicular to the A-axis, containing
the C-axis
， R-Plane: A plane inclined 57.5667 degrees to the optic axis
and in the same zone as the M-plane
， Random: There is no specified relationship between the part
and the crystalline orientation. The part is manufactured without
concern about orientation
Sapphire Grades:
Sapphire has an infinite number of grades:
Grades are entirely arbitrary and are decided upon after inspection
of each synthetic sapphire batch which has been grown.
Synthetic sapphire is graded by what is important for a particular
application, either optical or mechanical.
A high grade of sapphire would have little or no light scatter
or lattice distortion and be used mainly for the most demanding
optical applications.
A lower grade of sapphire may have extensive light scatter or
lattice distortion, being used mainly for mechanical and structural
uses such as bearings, fixtures, and less demanding optical applications.
An ultraviolet (UV) grade sapphire or non-browning sapphire will
not solarize on exposure to UV light.
An infinite number of grades fall between the high and lower synthetic
sapphire grades, with each sapphire manufacturer giving a name
to their own grades.
Grade 1. Free of insertions, block boundaries, twins, microbubbles
and scattering centersl;
Grade 2. Free of insertions, block boundaries, twins; individual
scattering centers (microbubbles< 10um located not closer than
10mm) are allowed;
Grade 3. Free of insertions, block boundaries, twins; individual
bubbles <20um located not closer than 10mm to each other are
allowed;
Grade 4. Free of insertions, block boundaries, twins; bubbles
< 20um located not closer than 2 mm from one another as well
as bubbles clusters (which may include individual bubbles up to
50 um) of size < 200 um scattered not closer than 10mm to each
other within the effective volume 20 x 20 x 20mm are allowed;
Grade 5. Free of insertions, block boundaries, twins; bubbles
< 20um located not closer than 2mm from one another as well
as bubbles clusters (which may include individual bubbles up to
50 um) of size < 500 um scattered not closer than 5mm to each
other within the effective volume 20 x 20 x 20mm are allowed;
Grade 6. Free of insertions, block boundaries, twins; defective
areas with bubbles clusters of size > 500 are allowed.
We consider 1-4 grades as optical ones; 5-6 as technical ones.
For all optical grades blue and green coloration is not allowed.
For all technical grades coloration is not controlled.
Insertions, block boundaries and twins inside the material are
controlled visually between crossed
polarizers.
* NOTE: These sapphire properties may be dependent
upon relative crystal orientation, form and surface quality.
The information on this page has been compiled from numerous sources
and is intended only as a reference, not a recommendation, for
the use of sapphire. The China & South Optical Crystals Co.
does not guarantee the accuracy or appropriateness of these data
for any application.
