Glasses for laser protection

摘要

This invention is directed to the production of cuprous halide- or a cuprous-cadmium halide-containing glass articles which are essentially completely opaque to ultraviolet radiation and can be essentially completely opaque to radiation within the region of wavelengths of up to 550 nm, but are transparent to visible radiations having a wavelength longer than the radiation within the region of opacity. The method involves exposing the glass articles to a hydrogen gas-containing atmosphere at a temperature between about 375 DEG -500 DEG C. for a period of at least 18 hours to develop an integral reduced layer in at least one surface of the article having a depth effective to prevent the transmission of ultraviolet radiation and radiation having a wavelength up to 550 nm through the article.