Nitride glasses and methods of making same
AssigneeArizona Board of Regents acting on behalf of Arizona State University
InventorsPaul F. McMillan, C. Austen Angell, Tor Grande, John R. Holloway
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Abstract
The present invention relates generally to a novel and unique class of gly materials and methods of making such materials in which substantially all of the anions are nitride ions, in contrast to the oxide ions of conventional optical glasses, or the fluoride ions of the more recently discovered fluoride optical glasses. The chemical nature of these new glasses dispose the glassy materials to a remarkable combination of desirable properties, including, but not limited to, high hardness, high refractive index and high softening temperature.
Claims8
A bulk optical glass containing phosphorous which is transparent in the visible range of the spectrum comprising at least 50 atomic percent nitride anions as its anionic ingredient and having a refractive index in excess of 1.85, a softening temperature in excess of 750.degree. C., and a hardness greater than 4.9 on Mohs' scale.
An optical glass prepared by heating a compound selected from the group consisting of phosphorous nitride and hydrogenated phosphorous nitride to a temperature greater than 500.degree. C. but not more than 750.degree. C. in an airtight crucible until said compound becomes a monolithic amorphous material;
- and quenching said amorphous material to room temperature.
An optical glass containing nitride anions as the principal anionic ingredient, in which phosphorous nitride is admixed with other nitrides selected from the group consisting of calcium, barium, lithium, silicon, sodium, and mixtures thereof;
- said admixture having been heated to a temperature of at least 650.degree. C. but not more than 1400.degree. C. at a pressure of at least 5 kilobars but not more than 25 kilobars in a sealed crucible to form a homogenous mass;
- and said homogeneous mass having been cooled to room temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.