An Organometallic Route to Micron-Sized Whiskers of Zinc Sulfide.
Abstract
A number of technologies require the development of high performance optical materials that also meet stringent specifications of optical transparency and thermal, chemical, and mechanical properties. For example, an infrared transmitting window material should have low thermal expansion, high melting and decomposition temperatures, chemical inertness to hydrolysis and oxidation, and high fracture toughness. One of the most attractive materials for many infrared optical applications is Zinc sulfide, but this material, as presently fabricated, does not process the required mechanical properties. One approach to improving the mechanical properties of a material is to form a self-similar composite, in this case, ZnS whiskers in polycrystalline ZnS matrix. To fabricate IR transmitting ZnS/ZnS composites, it would be necessary to use micron-sized whiskers of ZnS that have length to width ratios (aspect ratios) greater than 10. No present methodology exists for the convenient, large-scale preparation of such whiskers, although larger single crystals and whiskers of ZnS have been made by a variety of high temperature (>900 C), generally vapor-phase, routes. (jes)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 22, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA195889
Entities
People
- C. G. Pantano
- C. L. Czekaj
- G. L. Geoffroy
- M. S. Rau
- T. A. Guiton
Organizations
- Pennsylvania State University