Effect of temperature on the molding of chalcogenide glass lenses for infrared imaging applications.

We examine the effect of temperature on the molding of chalcogenide glass for infrared (IR) lens fabrication and evaluate a molded chalcogenide glass lens. Both the adhesion of the chalcogenide glass to the mold's surface and lens breakage depended on the initial heating temperature and on the molding temperatures in the glass molding process. In addition, the molded chalcogenide glass lens was evaluated based on transcription characteristics of the mold's surface, IR transmittance, and x-ray diffraction patterns. From the analysis results, we verified that the chalcogenide glass lens for IR imaging application could be fabricated by well-controlled temperature conditions.