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Custom Lithium Fluoride

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Find out more about our custom lithium fluoride

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Knight Optical provides high-quality lithium fluoride optical components, including lithium fluoride windows, lenses, and prisms tailored to your specific requirements.

Known for its extensive transmission spectrum from the VUV to the IR range, lithium fluoride is especially valued in UV optics due to its profound UV transmission capabilities.

We supply lithium fluoride optics crafted to meet and exceed custom specifications. Our offerings range from uncoated pieces to options with advanced coatings such as broadband antireflective (BBAR) coatings, ensuring optimal performance across various applications.

For those requiring unique solutions, our custom services accommodate virtually any shape or size, incorporating lithium fluoride uses tailored to your project’s specific demands. Our dedication to excellence and customer service ensures that you receive the best lithium fluoride optics price and product available on the market.

For enquiries or more information about our LiF windows and other lithium fluoride products, please contact our technical sales team. We’re here to assist you in selecting the right lithium fluoride optics for your application, backed by our comprehensive testing and quality assurance protocols.

Speak to our experts about your Custom Lithium Fluoride needs today

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    Optical Properties of Lithium Fluoride

    Lithium fluoride’s properties make it a choice material for specialized applications, including deep UV transmission. Its melting point and refractive index are suited to demanding environments, reinforcing its utility in diverse optical systems. Whether you’re interested in lithium fluoride lens designs, windows, or other optical forms, our inventory addresses a broad spectrum of needs, including those seeking lithium fluoride optical windows with optics stock levels to match.

    We understand the importance of affordability without compromising quality. Our in-house metrology lab ensures that each lithium fluoride optic meets quality standards before reaching you.

    Below is a brief summary of lithium fluoride’s optical properties, a full data sheet is available here.

    Transmission Range0.12 to 6µm
    Refractive Index1.392 @ 0.6µm
    Density2.639 g/cm3
    Melting Point848°C
    HardnessKnoop 102 with 600g indenter
    Diameter< 5mm to 100mm +
    Form error (@633nm)< 0.25 waves
    Centration/parallelism< 1 arc minute
    Scratch/dig< 20/10
    Typical coatingsBBAR @ 1-6µm, DLC @ 1-6µm

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Lithium fluoride (LiF) is widely used in optical applications due to its transparency in ultraviolet, visible, and infrared light. It’s commonly found in UV optics like lenses and windows. Moreover, LiF is used in X-ray crystallography and in fluxes for metal smelting.

    Lithium fluoride is known for its excellent UV transmission properties, high resistance to thermal shock, and low refractive index. These properties make LiF valuable for optics and nuclear science applications. Additionally, its melting point is notably high compared to other alkali halides.

    LiF optics, such as lenses and windows, offer exceptional transmission from ultraviolet to mid-infrared wavelengths, outperforming many other materials in UV applications. However, they are more sensitive to moisture and require careful handling.

    The price of lithium fluoride can vary based on purity, processing costs, demand in the optics industry, and market availability of lithium. Prices may also fluctuate due to technological developments and global market trends.

    Lithium fluoride has a high melting point, making it stable at elevated temperatures, which is crucial for high-temperature applications, such as in thermal imaging systems and in environments where thermal stability is required.

    For the most current and reliable stock and price information for LiF optics, it’s best to consult directly with suppliers and manufacturers such as Knight Optical. They can provide the latest availability, customisation options, and pricing based on your specific needs.


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    Additional Information

    Low Refractive Index

    Lithium fluoride has the lowest refractive index of the commonly used infrared materials. It also has the most extreme UV transmission of the infrared materials, transmitting beyond the hydrogen Lyman-alpha line at 121nm.

    Considerations

    Temperature

    Though largely insoluble in water, lithium fluoride degrades by atmospheric moisture at around 400°C, whilst in dry conditions it can be used up to 600°C.

    Safety

    LiF cleaves easily during manufacture, so steep radii can cause surface tearing and damage to the optic. Extreme care needs to be taken. It is sensitive to thermal shock from a rapid change in temperature which can cause cleavage in the material.

    Typical Applications

    Crystal Quartz for X-ray Monochromator Plates

    X-Ray Monochromator Plates

    The particular lattice gaps in lithium fluoride’s crystalline structure means that for specific wavelengths, and at certain incident angles, it will reflect radiation (x-rays). This is known as Bragg Diffraction. When these reflected x-rays interfere constructively they form a Bragg peak of intense radiation. Using a plate of lithium fluoride, a monochromatic (single) beam of x-ray can be selected.

    Magnesium Fluoride for Excimer Lasers

    Transmission windows

    Due to its excellent transmission down to the VUV range, lithium fluoride windows are often used in VUV and excimer lasers.

    Get in touch with us:

    With our in-house state-of-the-art metrology laboratory you can be confident that your optical components will meet your requirements. You can find out more about our testing facilities here.









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