Radiation Resistant Glasses

For use in surroundings with high ionizing radiation

SCHOTT Advanced Optics offers a variety of radiation resistant glass types with different dispersion properties:

• BK7G18
• LF5G19
• LF5G15
• K5G20
• LAK9G15
• F2G12 and
• SF6G05.

These glass-types are suitable for use in surroundings with high radioactivity.

By adding cerium to the composition, optical glass can be stabilized against transmittance loss caused by ionizing radiation. The added cerium changes the intrinsic color of the glass from white to a yellowish tint, while the UV-transmittance edge is shifted to a longer wavelength. The goal, is to optimize the cerium content in order to achieve high stability against radiation while keeping the initial coloring at a minimum level.

The radiation resistance differs with each glass type, whereas it can be extremely high for some types such as the BK7G18 and LF5G19.

Radiation resistant glass comes in the form of cut blanks, pressings, rods as well as finished optical components. SCHOTT does not guarantee the availability of the glass in stock; please contact us before placing an order. 

We also offer high-precision optical components made of radiation resistant glass.

Quality Assurance

• Test certificates for refractive index and dispersion and detailed transmittance data upon request
• Accurate measurement microscopes and stress measurement setups according to the "de Senarmont" method for the examination of internal quality and stress birefringence
• Interferometer with aperture up to 24 inches in diameter for optical homogeneity inspection