Substrate and Coating Info

Substrate Materials

Optical Glass: Sodalime (Float Glass): Chemically stable, and reasonably hard. Most commonly used in catalog products (unless otherwise noted)

B270 (Crown Glass): More transparent than sodalime glass. It is highly resistant to solar radiation and offers high transmittance in the visible wavelength range. It also has a fire-polished surface and offers high chemical stability.

N-BK-7: Very clear optical glass and is the arsenic and lead free successor material of BK7. N-BK7 is a relatively hard bor-crown glass and shows a good scratch resistance. It has a very low amount of inclusions and is almost bubble-free. Another reason for choosing N-BK7 is the high linear optical transmission in the visible range down to 350nm.

Pyrex (Borofloat): Low thermal expansion glass. Of the hundreds of commercial glasses produced, PYREX low expansion borosilicate Type I glasses comes closest to being the ideal glass for most laboratory applications. With proper care, it will withstand nearly all temperatures used in normal laboratory use.

Fused Silica (Quartz): Glass consisting of silica in amorphous (non-crystalline) form. It differs from traditional glasses in containing no other ingredients. The optical and thermal properties of fused silica are superior to those of other types of glass due to its purity. For these reasons, it finds use in situations such as semiconductor fabrication and laboratory equipment. It has better ultraviolet transmission than most other glasses, and is used to make other optics for the ultraviolet spectrum. Its low coefficient of thermal expansion also makes it a useful material for precision mirror substrates.

Opal (White Ivory): A solid white translucent optical quality glass commonly used to either diffuse light or to provide a reflective surface. Opal also offers higher resolution capabilities and better image stability over traditional reflective photographic paper for various types of applications.

Ceramics: White or near white reflective material comprising of 96% compacted Alumina. Ceramics are commonly noted for their matte surface quality finish; therefore low reflectivity while retaining a white reflective surface as well as resistance to breakage .

Hi-Resolution Photographic Paper: Available in Glossy, Semi-Matte and Matte finish surfaces. For use in reflective applications and is less expensive than Opal or Ceramics.

Film with Photoemulsion: For use with transmission applications. Multiple film sources and types are available for custom applications.

Coating Materials


High Reflective Chrome: Approximately 65%R at 436nm

Low Reflective Chrome: Approximately 11%R at 436nm

Blue Chrome: <5% at 632nm

Blue-Chrome-Blue: <5% at 623nm (either side of glass)

Gold: IR reflectance, very fragile

Low Contrast: A coating differential between background and foreground as defined by the Weber Contrast Method. All measurements are measured at 500nm wavelength.

Photo Emulsion: These are all in a gelatin coating

Black and White Photo Paper: Silver halide coating on white paper

Color Photo Paper: Dye based images on white paper

Black and white photo film: Clear polyester base high contrast or continuous tone

Color Photo Film – Colors and clear base

Color Microfilms: Color and high resolution

Ink/paint – typically used for precision control of spot added color patches

Inkjet-color (pigment based) – very near spectrally neutral grays

Si02: Silicon dioxide coating, clear, used for protection, only suitable for rigid substrates

ANTI-REFLECTIVE COATING (A/R): Optimized for one wavelength but covers a wide range, 0.5% to 2%R

Multi-Layer A/R COATING (BBAR): Broad Band Anti-Reflective coating can achieve up to near 0% to 0.5%R over wide range of wavelengths