Infrared transmitting chalcogenide glass ceramics

Abstract Infrared glass ceramics transmitting light from 2 to 15 μm have been produced from a Ga–Ge–Sb–Se glass. The glass composition is selected in the middle of the glass forming region and the annealing temperature must be close to Tg to avoid excessive crystal growth. A heating time of the order of two weeks is necessary to see evolution of the thermal expansion coefficient of the composite while keeping the optical transmission properties of the glass.