Glass Composition for Coating and Bonding of Polycrystalline Spinel Ceramic Substrates

Design considerations of the lead-based glass composition was broadened beyond the two known criteria of matched index of refraction and thermal coefficient of expansion to include previous studies of thick film materials. Five criteria for the glass-design composition were used: matched index of refraction and thermal coefficient of expansion, components (MgO and Al₂O₃) to slow down dissolution of spinel (MgAl₂O₄) into the glass, non-crystallizing glass in a broad temperature range and glass with good chemical durability. Synthesis and characterization of glass, glass paste preparation and its application to spinel substrates to form coating and bonding and optical characterizations in the UV, VIS and IR of coated, uncoated, and bonded spinel substrates of two commercial sources are described. Enhancement of transmittance exceeding the theoretical value of polished spinel was found for the first time when glass coating was applied to a ground face of semi-polished spinel.