Barium Fluoride is used for optical windows,
lenses and prisms. The transmission range is 0.2 µm - 11 µm. Barium
fluoride is grown by vacuum Stockbarger technique. Polishing is
quicker than calcium fluoride using diamond pastes but is less
easy to obtain free of sleeks. Barium fluoride is less resistant
to attack by water than Calcium Fluoride. Pronounced water attack
occurs at 500 °C, but the material can be used to 800 °C in a
dry environment. The material is relatively hard but is highly
sensitive to thermal shock.
MATERIAL
