Germanium (New Design)

Germanium lenses are used for the manufacture of long-life IR systems. They are ideal for focusing IR radiation, which is why they are often used in camera lenses.

Germanium (New Design)

Applications and advantages

Germanium lenses are anti-reflective coated with a PVD coating to achieve optimum transmission. Germanium optics are used in IR systems (FLIR) in the 2-12 µm range.

Germanium has very low chromatic aberration, is characterized by maximum mechanical stability and hardness, is suitable for IR systems and IR lasers and therefore has a very wide range of applications.

The lenses are individually manufactured by us, with the highest level of experience and the competent expertise of Pleiger Laseroptik.

Material properties

Area of application

µm

Density g/cm³

5,33

Hardness level

780

Quality characteristics of Germanium

Germanium lenses are mostly used in aerospace and defense systems as well as in medical technology and general infrared measurement technology. Germanium optics can be used very well as lenses or windows. With an additional, perfectly matched multilayer coating, they also function as pass or band filters;

Thermodynamic restrictions

The optical properties of germanium are significantly influenced by the temperature. As the transmission decreases with increasing temperature, germanium optics can only be used at temperatures below 100°C.

Versatile use due to high robustness

Germanium is always used when robust optics are required. It is extremely hard (Knoop hardness of ~ 780) and has a density of 5.33 g/cm³. In addition, germanium does not react with air, water, bases and many acids, which makes this material very versatile.

Material properties

Density [g/cm3]:

5.32

Young‘s modulus [GPa]:

103.0

Knopp Hardness:

780

0.28

Heat capacity [J/K]:

310

Thermal conductivity [W/mK]:

58.60