Reduced-Cost Grinding and Polishing of Large Sapphire Windows

Sinmat Inc., in collaboration with Exotic Electro-Optics, Inc. proposes to investigate grinding and polishing of large sapphire windows using slurries based on unique nanoporous silica particles. Due to light transparency and high mechanical hardness and inertness, sapphire window materials find immense application in reconnaissance, navigation, surveillance, and thermal imaging systems used in submarines, tanks, missiles, helicopters, fighter jets and electro-optical targeting systems. Sinmat proposes to develop a chemical mechanical polishing process that will deliver low-cost, high-throughput fabrication of sapphire windows. The optical fabrication and performance testing of these windows will be carried out by Exotic Electro-Optics, Inc., a subsidiary of II-VI, Inc.