Rubicon Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:RBCN), a leading provider of optical sapphire components and sapphire substrates, today announced that it has successfully produced another very high quality sapphire slab of 18”W x 36”L x 2”T dimensions that meets the next two milestones in its development contract with the Air Force Research Laboratory. From this single slab, Rubicon has cut two very large windows of high-quality monocrystalline sapphire. The dimensions of these windows, which are not yet polished, are 18 x 30” and 17 x 25”, each up to 1” thick.
Rubicon’s Large-Area Net-Shape Crystal Extraction (LANCE) project is on track for completion this year, with only a few more milestones remaining to be reached including full size 18” x 36” x 0.86” windows. Crystal growth for these final milestones is expected to be complete by end of June 2016, with polishing targeted to be finished by the end of 2016.
Supported by a research contract from the United States Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Electronic & Sensors Branch, Materials & Manufacturing Directorate, the LANCE project encompasses the development of large-area sapphire windows of optical quality for military sensing and targeting applications. Previous sapphire production methods were incapable of supporting the growth of sapphire crystals at the thickness needed by the AFRL, so Rubicon drew on its deep experience and culture of innovation to develop an entirely new growth platform enabling the production of very large sapphire windows up to 2 inches thick.
“These very large sapphire windows have created a sensation in defense and commercial applications,” said Hap Hewes, Rubicon’s Senior Vice President, Optical. “Sapphire’s outstanding transparency in the infrared through ultraviolet spectra, combined with its incredible hardness and abrasion resistance, make this a very attractive solution for many optical applications that need durability and excellent optical performance. We are now exploring the scope of opportunity for these massive windows and assessing customer needs to determine our future capacity requirements.”
The large sapphire windows produced by Rubicon are intended for use as infrared windows in extreme environments where both durability and optical clarity are important.
“The Air Force Research Laboratory identifies, develops and integrates new technologies into the U.S. air, space and cyberspace forces,” said Jamie Hoff, United States Air Force. “Through the successful development of a unique technology for the production of large-area sapphire, Rubicon has taken another step forward toward meeting the advanced demands of military sensor technology.”
Case Number 88ABW-2015-0181
About Rubicon Technology
Rubicon Technology, Inc. is a vertically integrated advanced electronic materials provider specializing in monocrystalline sapphire for applications in light-emitting diodes (LEDs), optical systems and specialty electronic devices. Rubicon has an unmatched technology platform and expertise extending from the preparation of raw aluminum oxide through sapphire crystal growth and fabrication to large-diameter polished sapphire windows and wafers and patterned sapphire substrates (PSS), enabling Rubicon to supply custom sapphire products with superior quality and precision. Further information is available at http://rubicontechnology.com.
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