Low-load Hardness Behavior of Various Optical Materials

Hardness testing provides valuable information regarding the physical property characteristics of many materials, including infrared glasses and crystalline structures. Data on a material’s mechanical response to an applied load is important in the manufacture of high quality optics which possess low subsurface damage, and high adherence to radius specifications. Visible and infrared optics are currently being fabricated using the capabilities of Opticam, a computer automated machine tool developed at the Center for Optics Manufacture at the University of Rochester. Continuous improvements are being made in the generation of high quality planar and spherical elements, while reducing the laborious and cost-intensive aspects of their manufacture using this CAD/CAM technology.