Development of optical ceramic materials for infrared applications by optimizing sintering conditions

Abstract

The authors developed production process of polycrystalline Zinc Sulfide (ZnS) materials which have been widely applied to windows and domes for infrared sensor systems. Commercially available ZnS powders of ca. 5 um particle sizes were used as a starting material and Spark Plasma Sintering method (SPS) was applied to the powders for firing process. It was found that the densification of the sintered materials was inhibited by outgassing from ZnS powders during the sintering process (ca. 400 Celsius). Thermal desorption spectroscopy analyses revealed the components of outgassing, such as hydrogen sulfide, sulfur oxide and organic molecules. Based on these analyses, the optimum conditions on heating rate and starting temperature of uniaxial pressurization were investigated to remove the outgassing. The polycrystalline ZnS materials fired under the optimized SPS conditions have such characteristics as better transmittance than 65 % and good uniformity in both 3 - 5 um and 8 - 12 um wavelength regions. These results show the importance of removing outgassing from starting materials.