New infrared transmitting material via inverse vulcanization of elemental sulfur to prepare high refractive index polymers

Abstract

Polymers for IR imaging: The preparation of high refractive index polymers (n = 1.75 to 1.86) via the inverse vulcanization of elemental sulfur is reported. High quality imaging in the near (1.5 μm) and mid-IR (3-5 μm) regions using high refractive index polymeric lenses from these sulfur materials was demonstrated.

Keywords: IR optics; high refractive index; imaging; polymers; sulfur.