Product Overview

Through-hole transparent sapphire components are precision-engineered optical and structural parts made from single-crystal aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃). Featuring excellent optical clarity and unmatched mechanical strength, these components combine transparency, hardness, and chemical resistance, making them ideal for demanding environments. The through-hole design allows for precise alignment, fluid passage, or mounting functions in optical, mechanical, and electronic assemblies.

Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness, with a Mohs rating of 9, ensuring exceptional wear resistance and durability. Its high transmittance from ultraviolet (UV) to infrared (IR) wavelengths and excellent thermal conductivity make transparent sapphire a preferred material for high-performance optical and mechanical systems.

Key Features

• High Optical Clarity: Excellent transmission range from 200 nm to 5000 nm, suitable for UV, visible, and IR applications.

• Extreme Hardness: Mohs 9 hardness provides outstanding scratch and abrasion resistance.

• High Strength and Stability: Maintains optical and mechanical integrity under high temperature and pressure.

• Chemical Inertness: Resistant to acids, alkalis, and plasma environments.

• Precision Machining: Through-holes can be made via laser drilling, ultrasonic machining, or diamond grinding with micrometer-level tolerance.

• Wide Operating Temperature: Stable from −180°C up to 2000°C in vacuum or inert atmospheres.

Applications

1. Optical Systems:
   Used in optical windows, lenses, or housings that require light transmission and through-hole alignment for mechanical or photonic integration.

2. Semiconductor Equipment:
   Serves as observation windows, wafer holders, or insulating supports where transparency and heat resistance are critical.

3. Aerospace and Defense:
   Integrated into sensors, infrared domes, and laser targeting systems where durability and optical clarity are required.

4. Medical and Analytical Instruments:
   Suitable for spectroscopic cells, flow-through cuvettes, or pressure-resistant sample chambers.

5. Industrial and Precision Machinery:
   Used in wear-resistant guides, bushings, and alignment fixtures where through-holes facilitate assembly or fluid passage.

Technical Specifications (Typical)

Manufacturing Process

Through-hole sapphire parts are manufactured through precision crystal orientation, diamond slicing, polishing, and micro-hole processing. Advanced techniques such as laser drilling, ultrasonic machining, and chemical-assisted mechanical polishing ensure tight dimensional control and smooth internal surfaces. The final products are inspected using interferometry and optical microscopy to guarantee superior optical and mechanical quality.

Advantages

• High transparency across a wide spectral range

• Outstanding resistance to thermal shock and wear

• Long service life even in harsh environments

• Customizable geometry and hole dimensions

• Ideal for optical-electromechanical integration

FAQ

Q1: What is the main advantage of through-hole sapphire compared with glass or quartz?
A1: Sapphire offers much higher hardness, temperature resistance, and chemical durability than glass or quartz, making it suitable for extreme conditions and high-precision optical assemblies.

Q2: Can through-holes be made very small?
A2: Yes. With laser or ultrasonic drilling, through-holes as small as 0.1 mm can be achieved with tight tolerance and minimal microcracking.

Q3: Is anti-reflective coating available?
A3: Yes. AR coatings or metallized layers can be applied according to wavelength and application requirements.

Q4: What shapes are available?
A4: Round, square, rectangular, and irregular custom geometries are all available. Multi-hole or counterbore designs can also be produced.