CPC C03C 3/321 (2013.01) [C03B 1/00 (2013.01); C03B 5/06 (2013.01); C03B 5/16 (2013.01); C03B 5/187 (2013.01); C03B 25/00 (2013.01); C03B 27/028 (2013.01); C03B 2201/86 (2013.01)] | 1 Claim |
1. A striae-free chalcogenide glass made by the method, comprising:
loading germanium, arsenic, selenium, and tellurium precursors into an ampoule, wherein the germanium, arsenic, selenium, and tellurium precursors are sufficient to constitute a glass with the composition of x % at. germanium, y % at. arsenic, z % at. selenium, and (100-x-y-z) % at. tellurium, wherein 0.5≤x≤25, 30≤x+y≤55, and 0.5≤z≤20, sealing the ampoule, and placing the ampoule in a rocking furnace, wherein the rocking furnace comprises a top zone and a bottom zone, wherein the top and bottom zones are two independently controllable temperature zones;
heating both the top and bottom zones at a rate of 3° C. per minute to a Step 1 temperature, wherein the Step 1 temperature is the same for both the top and bottom zones;
maintaining the Step 1 temperature in the top and bottom zones while rocking the furnace at an inclination angle of +45° for 15 hours;
increasing the temperature of the top zone at a rate of 0.6° C. per minute to a Step 3 top zone temperature and maintaining the Step 1 bottom zone temperature as the Step 3 bottom zone temperature while rocking the furnace at an inclination angle of +45°, wherein there is a temperature gradient of 100° C. between the Step 3 top zone temperature and the Step 3 bottom zone temperature;
setting the furnace to a vertical position and maintaining the Step 3 top zone temperature and the Step 3 bottom zone temperature for 3 hours;
decreasing the temperature of the top zone at a rate of 10° C. per minute to a Step 5 top zone temperature, decreasing the temperature of the bottom zone at a rate of 10° C. per minute to a Step 5 bottom zone temperature, and maintaining the Step 5 top zone temperature and Step 5 bottom zone temperature for 3 hours, wherein the Step 5 top zone temperature is 100° C. lower than the Step 3 top zone temperature, and wherein the Step 5 bottom zone temperature is 100° C. lower than the Step 3 bottom zone temperature;
decreasing the temperature of the top zone at a rate of 10° C. per minute to a Step 6 top zone temperature, decreasing the temperature of the bottom zone at a rate of 10° C. per minute to a Step 6 bottom zone temperature, and maintaining the Step 6 top zone temperature and Step 6 bottom zone temperature for 3 hours, wherein the Step 6 top zone temperature is 100° C. lower than the Step 5 top zone temperature, and wherein the Step 6 bottom zone temperature is 100° C. lower than the Step 5 bottom zone temperature;
decreasing the temperature of the top zone at a rate of 10° C. per minute to a Step 7 top zone temperature, decreasing the temperature of the bottom zone at a rate of 10° C. per minute to a Step 7 bottom zone temperature, and maintaining the Step 7 top zone temperature and Step 7 bottom zone temperature for 30 minutes; and
removing the ampoule from the furnace and water quenching the glass.
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