Micro-crystallization of the infrared transmitting chalcogenide glass in GeSe2–As2Se3–PbSe system

Micro-crystallization of the chalcogenide glass 40GeSe2–50As2Se3–10PbSe has been studied in order to obtain infrared transmitting glass ceramics. Differential scanning calorimetry, IR transmission spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electronic microscopy and thermal dilatancy have been used for characterizing the crystallization process. Performing thermal treatment on the glass sample at 250 °C (40 °C higher than Tg) for 10 h, we obtained a glass ceramic containing well-dispersed micro-crystals (<50 nm) and the obviously decreased thermal expansion coefficient.