Zinc Sulfide( ZnS) has two material froms white multi-spectral material and yellow primary material. both are chemically inert,have high purity, are insoluble in water, have moderate density and are easy to process, because of ZnS wide transmission wavelength range to 500nm to 10000nm, zinc sulfide( zns) widely used in the manufacture of infrared windows,covers, and infrared optical components.
ZnS glasses have high transmission infrared optical window in MWIR(3-5um) and LWIR (8-12um)area., transmission more than 70% without coating.there is no transmission in visible light (400-700nm), but there still have a slightly transmission ( 20%-40%) in 700-2000nm, need to add AR coating to reduce the loss of surface.
zinc sulfide glass window make a very important role in thermal imaging systems, can effectively capture infrared radiation to detecting temperature differences, they also used in spectroscopic instruments,they can precisely analyze infrared spectra to identity chemical compositions or material properties.moreover, in environmental monitoring equipment, the ZnS window plate, due to its stability to optical clarity, helps transmit infrared signals, measuring atmospheric polluants or natural phenomena.
There have four common cystal materials suitable for infrared area, that is Znse, Zinc, Silicon,Caf2, let compare with them for thermal image.
Znse window have very high transmission at 8-14um, superior image.becasue of easily scratches so most used in the equipment, not for outside protective window.
ZnS window have high hardenss with Mohs 7+, resistant to alcohol wipe and wear,more used on handheld theraml imager as a protective window.
Caf2 window not good at mechanical strength, easily moisture,more used for FTIR
Silicon window more used in 10.6um industrial CO2 laser, in theraml image systems only as visilbe camera window
Sapphrie window famous for it's hardness and insulating properites used for IR windows not for medical thermal imaging