Europe, UK, Asia & RoW: [email protected] +44 (0)1622 859444 | USA & Canada: [email protected] +1 401-583-7846

BREXIT UPDATE: Knight Optical will continue to provide quality assured service for all your optical requirements both custom & stock. We will handle all requirements caused by the new regulations.

GLOBAL LEADERS IN CUSTOM OPTICAL SOLUTIONS

Looking For a Custom Optical Solution? Enquire

Custom Sodium Chloride


Sodium chloride (NaCl), commonly known as rock salt, is a soft and highly soluble crystalline material. It has a very broad transmission range from 200nm to 15µm, with a transmission above 90%.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Below is a brief summary of sodium chloride’s optical properties, a full data sheet is available here.

Transmission range

0.2 to 16µm

Refractive Index

1.49065 @ 10.6µm

Density

2.17 g/cm3

Melting Point

801°C

Hardness

Knoop 18.2 in <100> with
200g indenter

Operating temperature

< 400°C in dry environment

 
Knight Optical can supply a variety of sodium chloride optical components including windows and sodium chloride ground blanks. We can also provide uncoated and coated optics, with broadband antireflective (BBAR) coatings. Our typical manufacturing specifications are listed below, however we are always expanding our capabilities so if your requirements are not mentioned below please contact our technical sales team who will guide you through your enquiry.
 

Diameter

< 5mm to 200mm

Form error (@633nm)

< 0.25 waves

Centration /parallelism

< 1 arc minute

Scratch/dig

< 80/50

Typical coatings

BBAR @ 1-16µm

DLC @ 1-16µm

 
All optical components are tested in our state-of-the-art metrology lab and then visually inspected in our QA department, so you can be confident that your optics meet their specific requirements. You can find out more about our testing facilities here.
 

Additional Information

  • Sodium chloride is grown via the Kyropoulos method and, under humidity controlled conditions, can be highly polished.
  • It is a relatively low cost material.
  • NaCl is relatively resistant to mechanical and thermal shock.

Additional Information

  • Sodium chloride is hygroscopic, so requires protection from atmospheric conditions due to moisture degradation. A hydrophilic coating can help protect it from ‘fogging’ up when in contact with moisture.
  • It requires very careful handling as, with a hardness of HK18.2, it is extremely soft.
  • Do not clean NaCl optics with water.

Typical Applications

Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy
  • NaCl optics, including cell windows, are used in FTIR spectrometers, due to its wide transmission range into the infrared region. They can be used to hold non-polar liquid samples, which will not degrade the material.
High-powered laser systems
  • Sodium chloride windows can be used in high-powered laser systems, such as CO2 lasers due to its low absorption. They are often used to protect other laser optics such as zinc selenide or YAG focussing lenses.

 

Our 2022/2023 Catalogue

Inside Knight Optical’s catalogue you’ll find details of the industries we serve as well as the many other services we can offer. It also showcases hundreds of our most popular products, supported by useful technical information, to help you choose the right part for your application.
Click below to view our digital catalogue now.

view our catalogue