Controlled crystallization of GeS2–Sb2S3–CsCl glass for fabricating infrared transmitting glass-ceramics

The crystallization of selected glasses from the GeS2–Sb2S3–CsCl ternary system has been studied under non-isothermal condition. The nucleation and crystal growth mechanisms have been investigated and proved to be dependant on the glass composition. It has been found that the 80GeS2–10Sb2S3–10CsCl is a good candidate for controlled crystallization. The best nucleation temperature and time have been determined. Crystals of about 20–30 nm have been uniformly generated in the glass and the obtained glass-ceramics have the same transmission in the mid and far infrared transmission.