Infrared optics made from chalcogenide glass

High-quality infrared optics is a vital part of modern thermography and sensor systems. In fields such as defense, medical technology and automotive engineering, infrared radiation provides information that cannot be obtained through visible light. For instance, it enables temperature distributions and heat radiation from objects to be detected, and material-specific properties to be identified.

Due to its chemical composition, which includes elements such as sulphur, selenium, or tellurium in combination with arsenic, germanium or antimony, chalcogenide glass exhibits high transmission in the mid- and long-wave infrared range. This results in compact, efficient and stable infrared optics that can be reliably integrated into industrial sensor systems and deliver consistent performance, even under demanding conditions.

Chalcogenide glasses are already in use in many different fields:

• Defense: Thermographic systems, targeting optics and sensor technology for unmanned systems.
• Industrial thermography: Imaging infrared systems for process monitoring, quality assurance, and predictive maintenance.
• Medical technology: Compact infrared optics for non-contact temperature measurement and thermal diagnostics.
• Mobility: Cost-effective IR lenses for night vision systems and thermal sensors for autonomous driving applications.

Production and process expertise

Manufacturing chalcogenide glass optics requires an in-depth knowledge of the material, precise process control and specialized tooling technologies. At Fraunhofer IPT, we develop industrial process chains for producing high-precision infrared optics made of chalcogenide glass. We significantly reduce material consumption and machining effort through replicative manufacturing using precision glass molding (PGM) process. This process ensures high reproducibility and enables stable series production, also for medium and high volumes. Precise control of the process temperature and the glass material flow are crucial here, as is the development of coating technology for the tools to prevent glass adhesion.

Optical geometries and quality

At Fraunhofer IPT, we optimize the entire manufacturing chain for complex optical geometries – from tool development and FEM-based process design to precision glass molding (PGM) and quality assurance. We manufacture spherical and aspherical lenses, freeform surfaces, diffractive structures for compact optical systems, and microlens arrays for detector optics exclusively through the PGM process.

The resulting optics achieve surface roughness in the nanometer range and form accuracy below one micrometer. This enables reliable compliance with the stringent requirements of modern industrial infrared systems.

Our services

We support companies reliably in transitioning from prototyping to series production for molding chalcogenide glass, even for the most demanding IR applications. We offer:

• Feasibility analysis and material selection
• FEM simulation and process design
• Tool development and manufacturing
• Prototype production and process validation
• Technology transfer and professional training