Accuflect®: Light-Reflecting Ceramic
Accuflect™
reflects 95% to 99% of incident light from 450 nm to 2500 nm. The
reflectivity is essentially non-specular with nearly perfect LAMBERTIAN
behavior across the entire spectrum.
Manufacturing Accuflect®Accuflect®
material is fabricated with high purity metal oxides free of transition
metals and their compounds. Accuratus engineers working with many established
laser physicists, laser engineers and materials scientists have developed
a closely controlled manufacturing environment capable of producing Accuflect® with
consistent and repeatable material properties.
Types of Accuflect® Ceramic
Accuflect® is available in two product types. The B6 material has the
virgin ceramic surface produced during manufacture. The G6 material has
a specialty clear glaze applied to seal the surface porosity of the
virgin material, allow easy cleaning and provide a non-contaminating
surface where it is exposed to atmosphere or liquid environments.
Accuflect® Optical Properties
The binary and ternary group metal oxides have a large band gap between
their valence and conduction bands so they absorb little radiation
between the ultraviolet and infrared. Thus, the broadband,
high
reflectance characteristic of Accuflect® as shown in the total
reflectance curves for virgin B6 and glazed G6 material.
Measurements Performed by Optical Data Associates
Tucson, AZ
The
fine microstructure with the related short mean path length and
discontinuous refractive indices of the ceramic body combine to
maximize diffuse light reflectance on reflectors as thin as three
millimeters. The total reflectance can be broken into the
diffuse component and the specular component. The Accuflect®
B6 exhibits virually no specular reflection.
The
glazed surface on Accuflect® G6 exhibits some specular reflection.
These measurements are performed by trapping the light
falling along the specular ray relative to the incident ray and taking
the difference in flux between the total reflectance and the total less
the specular component of reflection. Note that these curves
are developed with an air interface. If the Accuflect® G6 is
immersed in a medium other than air, with a corresponding higher
refractive index, the specularity will be reduced.
Another
way to express the "diffuseness" of a surface is to measure the
Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function or BRDF. The BRDF
curves give you an idea of the
"diffuseness" of the Accuflect® materials. An ideal Lambertian
reflector would have a uniform reflectance of Π-1
steradians. A more in depth discussion of the reflectance
characteristics of the material is available by downloading "The Reflectance
Characteristics of Accuflect® Light Reflecting Ceramic".
Physical
properties of Accuflect are listed in the Materials section.
Available
Accuflect Sizes
Optimal optical performance requires proprietary fabrication and firing
processes developed by Accuratus. For your design purposes, the initial
material forms are pressed as rods and blocks. For large orders, the
material can be pressed to near net shape.
|
Rods
diameter x length
|
Blocks
height x width x length
|
| millimeters
|
up to 100mm x 450mm
|
up to 75mm x 75mm x 450mm
|
| inches |
up to 4" x 18"
|
up to 3" x 3" x 18"
|
|
Accuratus’ fabrication team can shape the material
to your final geometry.
|
Accuflect Applications
Accuflect
is used in a number of applications. The Case Studies section
identifies several applications where the highly diffuse, highly
efficient reflection properties are used to good advantage.
Applications include:
- 1.
Optically pumped laser cavity reflectors
- 2.
Intense Pulsed Light therapy reflectors
- 3.
Reflectors in high temperature luminaires
- 4.
Solar cell manufacturing
- 5.
Thermophotovoltaics
The
Bottom Line
If you need a reflector material capable of being formed in complex
geometries, usable up to 1000°C, capable of maintaining reflectance and
integrity in extreme environments then consider Accuflect®: The Light Reflecting
Ceramic for your application.
See also: Custom
Products and Services > Laser Ceramics
See also: Case
Studies > Laser Reflectors
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