INFRARED-TRANSPARENT STRUCTURE INCLUDING AN ADHERENT, INFRARED-TRANSPARENT POLYMER LAYER

摘要

An infrared-transparent structure (20) includes a first infrared-transparent element (22) that is transparent to infrared radiation in the 3.6-7 micromet er wavelength range, preferably coated with a zinc-sulfide antireflective coati ng (26), and a layer (30) of a solvent-free, infrared-transparent polymer transparent on the first infrared-transparent element (22). The polymer is formed of an addition-cured silicone, such as addition-cured dimethyl silicone, and a small amount of an adhesion promoter, such as 3- glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane. The polymer layer (30) may either be a surface layer, or it may be used as an adhesive between the first infrared- transparent element and a second infrared-transparent element.