OPTICAL COMPONENT, ZINC SULFIDE SINTERED COMPACT, AND FABRICATING METHOD THEREOF

摘要

Zinc sulfide and an optical component are provided that significantly reduce transmission of visible light and infrared rays of not more than 3 .mu.m in wavelength, having high transmittance for infrared rays in the wavelength range of 8-12 .mu.m, and that shields visible light. The optical component is constituted by a polycrystalline zinc sulfide sintered compact formed by hot compression molding fine zinc sulfide powder of high impurity at the temperature of 900-1000.degree.C and the pressure of 150-800 kg/cm2. The light transmittance at the region where the thickness is 2 mm is 0% to 3% at the wavelength range of visible light, 0% to 20% at the wavelength range of 2.5-3 .mu.m, 30% to 75% at the wavelength range of 8-12 Nm, and 50% to 90 % at the same wavelength range with the formation of antireflection coating film.