Fluoride glasses

A new family of vitreous materials based on the glass forming ability of some specific fluorides is presented. Conditions of formation, stability against devitrification, chemical durability, and structural models are examined in comparison with the traditional oxide glasses. The ZrF4-based glasses and some other multicomponent materials are examined in depth in view of their promising optical properties, which arise from their broad transmission range from ultraviolet to mid infrared and their potential as ultratransparent materials for long distance repeaterless optical fibre. Other active optical applications of doped glasses, such as lasers and their electrical and magnetic properties, are also discussed.