APPLICATIONS OF SYNTHETIC SAPPHIRE

How our customers are using synthetic sapphire.

medical technology

In medical technology, sapphire is primarily used for optical applications, mostly sapphire windows and sapphire lenses. But also mechanical applications have been realized with sapphire already.

OVERVIEW APPLICATIONS MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

Typical applications for sapphire optics in medical technology include:

Optical fibers
Endoscope lenses
Protective windows for endoscopic cameras
Coated windows for dermatological lasers
UV sterilization of medical and dental instruments

In addition to optical applications, sapphire is also used for mechanical purposes in medical technology:

For medical instruments (e.g. scalpels)
In the latest hair transplantation techniques, instead of steel blades (Sapphire Tip FUE Technique)
In dentistry, for example, transparent brackets made of sapphire instead of steel, plastic, or ceramic

Anwendungen von Saphir: Ein medizinisches Gerät was einem Endoskop ähnelt

A scalpel with the tip made from glass like material

Applications of a red laser device on a woman's skin wearing protective glasses

The lower half of a smiling face with braces

A gray box with blue glass cylinders and various cables

optics & photonics

Due to its high refractive index, broad-band transparency, and chemical and physical stability, sapphire is also used in many other optical applications in nanophotonics and optoelectronic devices in the form of windows and lenses.

OVERVIEW APPLICATIONS OPTICS & PHOTONICS

Substrate material in UV-B and UV-C lamps
Substrate material for light-emitting diodes (LEDs), e.g., for gallium nitride (GaN)-based LED structures
Substrate material for laser diodes
Substrate material for various types of photodetectors, e.g., silicon carbide (SiC) and avalanche photodiodes (APDs)

Eine blau beleuchtete Tastatur von der Seite

Ein blau leuchtender Mikrochip auf einer Schaltplatine

MEASUREMENT & ANALYSIS TECHNOLOGY

Due to the increasing requirements for process analysis, such as high temperatures in chemically aggressive environments, sapphire is a suitable material in terms of optical and mechanical requirements in measurement and analysis technology.

OVERVIEW APPLICATIONS MEASUREMENT & ANALYSIS TECHNOLOGY

Sapphire optics in spectrometers
Sapphire optics in refractometers
Sapphire optics in pyrometers
Sapphire optics in photometers
Calibration standards for length measuring devices like dilatometers, for example

A laboratory in which a scientist with a white coat stands in front of a small oven on a desk.

A laboratory worker wearing safety glasses holding a measuring device in one hand and a color chart in the other hand

A person operating a control panel in front of a round, elongated oven

science

In scientific research, special customizations for prototypes and experimental setups are often requested by universities and research institutes.

OVERVIEW SCIENTIFIC APPLICATIONS

We have supplied our customers with the following customizations:

- Precision substrates and optics for measurement setups
- Sapphire windows for high-pressure applications
- Sapphire components for vacuum measurement cells
- Prototyping for research projects at universities

Eine futuristische Darstellung eines Nuklarreaktors

A submarine underwater with a large viewing hatch

AEROSPACE & AVIATION

Sapphire finds numerous applications in the aerospace industry due to its outstanding mechanical, thermal, and optical properties.

OVERVIEW APPLICATIONS AEROSPACE & AVIATION

Cockpit and sensor windows: Sapphire windows are used in aircraft and spacecraft cockpits as well as in sensors for navigation systems. Sapphire’s high transparency enables clear visibility and reliable sensor functionality.
Structural components: Due to its exceptional hardness and strength, technical sapphire is used in structural components such as bearings, bushings, and bearing sleeves. These components must withstand the extreme conditions of space and ensure long-term durability.
Heat-conducting components: Sapphire is also used in heat-conducting components such as heat sinks and thermal plates to improve heat dissipation in electronic systems. This is particularly important for cooling electronic components in spacecraft to ensure their proper functioning.
Protective covers for sensors and cameras: Sapphire is used as a protective cover for sensors, cameras, and optical instruments in spacecraft. Its high hardness and scratch resistance protect sensitive components from damage by space dust and micrometeoroids.
Communication satellites: Sapphire windows are used in high-power lasers and communication systems in communication satellites. The high optical quality of sapphire ensures reliable transmission of laser beams and electromagnetic signals in space.