iDLC: hardcoat for chalcogenide glass and other IR materials

A novel IR transmissive hard coating that offers protection to harsh environmental conditions on GASIR® and other IR materials for thermal imaging and sensing applications. iDLC has been developed to maximise both spectral and environmental performance for GASIR®. This coating can be applied to the outside surface of molded optics and windows and offers high spectral efficiencies from 1.4μm to 15μm. The ability to deposit a multi-layer structure allows broad band high efficiency anti-reflection coatings to be produced. Compared to conventional DLC, this coating offers significantly less absorption, lower reflection and thus allows higher transmission over a wide spectral band. Tests have shown that the coating offers exceptional resistance to abrasion, salt spray and humidity. The process used to manufacture iDLC has been configured for production volumes and offers a process for a wide range of applications on IR electro-optic materials.