Optical fluorophosphate glass and process of making same

Claim 2

An optical fluorophosphate glass of a high positive anomalous partial dispersion Δν e within the range of from about +10.0 to about +21.0, a relatively high index of refraction n e within the range of from about 1.47 to about 1.54, and an Abbe number ν e within the range of from about 84.1 to about 51.0, said glass being composed of the following components in approximate weight percent: OXIDE COMPONENTS (a): 9% to 20% of phosphorus pentoxide (P 2 O 5 ) 0% to 4% of cadmium oxide (CdO) 0% to 15% of lead monoxide (PbO) 0% to 14% of antimony trioxide (Sb 2 O 3 ) 0% to 10% of lanthanum oxide (La 2 O 3 ) 0% to 3% of germanium dioxide (GeO 2 ) 0% to 6% of titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) 0% to 7% of niobium pentoxide (Nb 2 O 5 ) 0% to 7% of molybdenum trioxide (MoO 3 ) 0% to 9% of tungsten trioxide (WO 3 ); FLUORIDE COMPONENTS (b): 3% to 7% of magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ) 5% to 19% of calcium fluoride (CaF 2 ) 0% to 11% of strontium fluoride (SrF 2 ) 0% to 34% of barium fluoride (BaF 2 ) 0% to 4% of cadmium fluoride (CdF 2 ) 21% to 23% of aluminum fluoride (AlF 3 ) 0% to 10% of bismuth trifluoride (BiF 3 ); COMPLEX FLUORIDE COMPONENTS (c): 0% to 6% of potassium hydrogen fluoride (KHF 2 ) 0% to 15% of potassium titanium hexafluoride (K 2 TiF 6 ) 0% to 24% of barium titanium hexafluoride (BaTiF 6 ); the calculated phosphorus content of said glass being between about 4.1% and about 8.4%, by weight, the calculated fluorine content thereof being between about 30.8% and about 37.6%, by weight, and the ratio of fluorine to phosphorus (F/P) being between about 3.7 and about 8.2.

Claim 3

The optical fluorophosphate glass of claim 1, said glass being composed of the following components in approximate weight percent: OXIDE COMPONENTS (a): 12% to 20% of phosphorus pentoxide (P 2 O 5 ) 8% to 14% of antimony trioxide (Sb 2 O 3 ) FLUORIDE COMPONENTS (b): 3% to 7% of magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ) 17% to 19% of calcium fluoride (CaF 2 ) 10% to 11% of strontium fluoride (SrF 2 ) 15% to 23% of barium fluoride (BaF 2 ) 21% to 23% of aluminum fluoride (AlF 3 ); COMPLEX FLUORIDE COMPONENTS (c): 0% to 6% of potassium hydrogen fluoride (KHF 2 ), the calculated phosphorus content of said glass being between about 5.3% and about 8.4%, by weight, the calculated fluorine content thereof being between about 31.4% and about 35.7%, by weight, and the ratio of fluorine to phosphorus (F/P) being between about 3.7 and about 6.7.

Claim 4

The optical fluorophosphate glass of claim 1, said glass being composed of the following components in approximate weight percent: OXIDE COMPONENTS (a): 9% to 18% of phosphorus pentoxide (P 2 O 5 ) 0% to 15% of lead monoxide (PbO) 0% to 10% of antimony trioxide (Sb 2 O 3 ) 0% to 7% of niobium pentoxide (Nb 2 O 5 ); FLUORIDE COMPONENTS (b): 5% to 6% of magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ) 17% to 18% of calcium fluoride (CaF 2 ) 8% to 9% of strontium fluoride (SrF 2 ) 23% to 24% of barium fluoride (BaF 2 ) 21% to 22% of aluminum fluoride (AlF 3 ), the calculated phosphorus content of said glass being between about 4.1% and about 7.8%, by weight, the calculated fluorine content thereof being about 33.8%, by weight, and the ratio of fluorine to phosphorus (F/P) being between about 4.3 and about 8.2.

Claim 5

The optical fluorophosphate glass of claim 1, said glass being composed of the following components in approximate weight percent: OXIDE COMPONENTS (a): 13% to 15% of phosphorus pentoxide (P 2 O 5 ) 0% to 4% of cadmium oxide (CdO) 1% to 10% of antimony trioxide (Sb 2 O 3 ) 0% to 10% of lanthanum oxide (La 2 O 3 ); FLUORIDE COMPONENTS (b): 5% to 6% of magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ) 17% to 18% of calcium fluoride (CaF 2 ) 8% to 9% of strontium fluoride (SrF 2 ) 23% to 24% of barium fluoride (BaF 2 ) 21% to 22% of aluminum fluoride (AlF 3 ), the calculated phosphorus content of said glass being between about 6.0% and about 6.3%, by weight, the calculated fluorine content thereof being about 33.8%, by weight, and the ratio of fluorine to phosphorus (F/P) being between about 5.4 and about 5.6.

Claim 6

The optical fluorophosphate glass of claim 1, said glass being composed of the following components in approximate weight percent: OXIDE COMPONENTS (a): 12% to 19% of phosphorus pentoxide (P 2 O 5 ) 0% to 7% of antimony trioxide (Sb 2 O 3 ) 0% to 6% of lanthanum oxide (La 2 O 3 ) 0% to 6% of titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ); FLUORIDE COMPONENTS (b): 5% to 6% of magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ) 17% to 18% of calcium fluoride (CaF 2 ) 8% to 9% of strontium fluoride (SrF 2 ) 23% to 24% of barium fluoride (BaF 2 ) 21% to 22% of aluminum fluoride (AlF 3 ), the calculated phosphorus content of said glass being between about 5.2% and about 8.3%, by weight, the calculated fluorine content thereof being between about 33.8% and about 34.5%, by weight, and the ratio of fluorine to phosphorus (F/P) being between about 4.1 and about 6.5.

Claim 7

The optical fluorophosphate glass of claim 1, said glass being composed of the following components in approximate weight percent: OXIDE COMPONENTS (a): 14% to 19% of phosphorus pentoxide (P 2 O 5 ) 0% to 7% of antimony trioxide (Sb 2 O 3 ) 0% to 7% of molybdenum trioxide (MoO 3 ) 0% to 9% of tungsten trioxide (WO 3 ); FLUORIDE COMPONENTS (b): 5% to 6% of magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ) 17% to 18% of calcium fluoride (CaF 2 ) 8% to 9% of strontium fluoride (SrF 2 ) 23% to 24% of barium fluoride (BaF 2 ) 21% to 22% of aluminum fluoride (AlF 3 ), the calculated phosphorus content of said glass being between about 6.5% and about 7.9%, by weight, the calculated fluorine content thereof being about 33.8%, by weight, and the ratio of fluorine to phosphorus (F/P) being between about 4.3 and about 5.2.

Claim 8

The optical fluorophosphate glass of claim 1, said glass being composed of the following components in approximate weight percent: OXIDE COMPONENTS (a): 13% to 16% of phosphorus pentoxide (P 2 O 5 ) 1% to 3% of cadmium oxide (CdO) 1% to 4% of lead monoxide (PbO) 1% to 3% of antimony trioxide (Sb 2 O 3 ) 0% to 2% of lanthanum oxide (La 2 O 3 ) 0% to 2% of germanium dioxide (GeO 2 ) 0% to 1% of titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) 0.5% to 2% of niobium pentoxide (Nb 2 O 5 ) 0% to 1% of molybdenum trioxide (MoO 3 ) 0% to 2% of tungsten trioxide (WO 3 ); FLUORIDE COMPONENTS (b): 5% to 7% of magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ) 17% to 18% of calcium fluoride (CaF 2 ) 8% to 9% of strontium fluoride (SrF 2 ) 23% to 24% of barium fluoride (BaF 2 ) 21% to 22% of aluminum fluoride (AlF 3 ), the calculated phosphorus content of said glass being between about 4.5% and about 6.9%, by weight, the calculated fluorine content thereof being about 33.8%, by weight, and the ratio of fluorine to phosphorus (F/P) being between about 4.9 and about 7.5.

Claim 9

The optical fluorophosphate glass of claim 1, said glass being composed of the following components in approximate weight percent: OXIDE COMPONENTS (a): 14% to 15% of phosphorus pentoxide (P 2 O 5 ) 9% to 10% of antimony trioxide (Sb 2 O 3 ); FLUORIDE COMPONENTS (b): 5% to 6% of magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ) 5% to 18% of calcium fluoride (CaF 2 ) 10% to 11% of strontium fluoride (SrF 2 ) 21% to 34% of barium fluoride (BaF 2 ) 21% to 22% of aluminum fluoride (AlF 3 ), the calculated phosphorus content of said glass being about 6.3%, by weight, the calculated fluorine content thereof being between about 30.8% and about 33.9%, by weight, and the ratio of fluorine to phosphorus (F/P) being between about 4.9 and about 5.4.

Claim 10

The optical fluorophosphate glass of claim 1, said glass being composed of the following components in approximate weight percent: OXIDE COMPONENTS (a): 14% to 15% of phosphorus pentoxide (P 2 O 5 ) 9% to 10% of antimony trioxide (Sb 2 O 3 ); FLUORIDE COMPONENTS (b): 5% to 6% of magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ) 15% to 18% of calcium fluoride (CaF 2 ) 0% to 9% of strontium fluoride (SrF 2 ) 19% to 32% of barium fluoride (BaF 2 ) 0% to 4% of cadmium fluoride (CdF 2 ) 21% to 22% of aluminum fluoride (AlF 3 ), the calculated phosphorus content of said glass being about 6.3%, by weight, the calculated fluorine content thereof being between about 33.1% and about 33.9%, by weight, and the ratio of fluorine to phosphorus (F/P) being between about 5.3 and about 5.4.

Claim 11

The optical fluorophosphate glass of claim 1, said glass being composed of the following components in approximate weight percent: OXIDE COMPONENTS (a): 14% to 15% of phosphorus pentoxide (P 2 O 5 ) 9% to 10% of antimony trioxide (Sb 2 O 3 ); FLUORIDE COMPONENTS (b): 5% to 6% of magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ) 7% to 18% of calcium fluoride (CaF 2 ) 8% to 9% of strontium fluoride (SrF 2 ) 13% to 24% of barium fluoride (BaF 2 ) 21% to 22% of aluminum fluoride (AlF 3 ) 0% to 10% of bismuth trifluoride (BiF 3 ), the calculated phosphorus content of said glass being about 6.3%, by weight, the calculated fluorine content thereof being between about 31.1% and about 33.8%, by weight, and the ratio of fluorine to phosphorus (F/P) being between about 4.9 and about 5.4.

Claim 12

The optical fluorophosphate glass of claim 1, said glass being composed of the following components in approximate weight percent: OXIDE COMPONENTS (a): 14% to 15% of phosphorus pentoxide (P 2 O 5 ) 9% to 10% of antimony trioxide (Sb 2 O 3 ); FLUORIDE COMPONENTS: 5% to 6% of magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ) 11% to 18% of calcium fluoride (CaF 2 ) 0% to 9% of strontium fluoride (SrF 2 ) 23% to 24% of barium fluoride (BaF 2 ) 21% to 22% of aluminum fluoride (AlF 3 ); COMPLEX FLUORIDE COMPONENTS (c): 0% to 15% of potassium titanium hexafluoride (K 2 TiF 6 ) 0% to 7% of barium titanium hexafluoride (BaTiF 6 ), the calculated phosphorus content of said glass being about 6.3%, by weight, the calculated fluorine content thereof being between about 33.8% and about 35.2%, by weight, and the ratio of fluorine to phosphorus (F/P) being between about 5.4 and about 5.6.

Claim 13

The optical fluorophosphate glass of claim 1, said glass being composed of the following components in approximate weight percent: OXIDE COMPONENTS (a): 13% to 14% of phosphorus pentoxide (P 2 O 5 ) 4% to 5% of lead monoxide (PbO) 3% to 4% of antimony trioxide (Sb 2 O 3 ) 2% to 3% of niobium pentoxide (Nb 2 O 5 ); FLUORIDE COMPONENTS (b): 5% to 6% of magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ) 17% to 18% of calcium fluoride (CaF 2 ) 8% to 9% of strontium fluoride (SrF 2 ) 0% to 24% of barium fluoride (BaF 2 ) 21% to 22% of aluminum fluoride (AlF 3 ); COMPLEX FLUORIDE COMPONENT (c):

Claim 14

0% to 24% of barium titanium hexafluoride (BaTIF 6 ), the calculated phosphorus content of said glass being about 6.2%, by weight, the calculated fluorine content thereof being between about 33.8% and about 37.6%, by weight, and the ratio of fluorine to phosphorus (F/P) being between about 5.5 and about 6.1.

Claim 15

0% to 24% of barium titanium hexafluoride (BaTIF 6 ), the calculated phosphorus content of said glass being about 6.2%, by weight, the calculated fluorine content thereof being between about 33.8% and about 37.6%, by weight, and the ratio of fluorine to phosphorus (F/P) being between about 5.5 and about 6.1.

Claim 16

In a process of producing an optical fluorophosphate glass having an index of refraction n e within the range from about 1.47 to about 1.54, Abbe number ν e within the range of from about 84.1 to about 51.0, and a high positive anomalous partial dispersion Δν e within the range of from about +10.0 to about +21.0, said process comprising the steps of a. melting a mixture essentially consisting of the following glass-forming components, in weight percent: METAPHOSPHATE COMPONENTS (A): 0% to 9% of cadmium metaphosphate (Cd(PO 3 ) 2 ) 0% to 25% of lead metaphosphate (Pb(PO 3 ) 2 ) 0% to 33% of antimony trimetaphosphate (Sb(PO 3 ) 3 ) 0% to 22% of lanthanum metaphosphate (La(PO 3 ) 3 ) 0% to 5% of germanium tetrametaphosphate (Ge(PO 3 ) 4 ) 0% to 25% of titanium tetrametaphosphate (Ti(PO 3 ) 4 ) 0% to 25% of niobium pentametaphosphate (Nb(PO 3 ) 5 ) 0% to 25% of molybdenum hexametaphosphate (Mo(PO 3 ) 6 ) 0% to 25% of tungsten hexametaphosphate (W(PO 3 ) 6 ) 0% to 9% of lanthanum orthophosphate (LaPO 4 ); FLUORIDE COMPONENTS (B): 3% to 7% of magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ) 5% to 19% of calcium fluoride (CaF 2 ) 0% to 11% of strontium fluoride (SrF 2 ) 0% to 34% of barium fluoride (BaF 2 ) 0% to 4% of cadmium fluoride (CdF 2 ) 21% to 23% of aluminum fluoride (A1F 3 ) 0% to 10% of bismuth trifluoride (BiF 3 ); COMPLEX FLUORIDE COMPONENTS (C): 0% to 6% of potassium hydrogen fluoride (KHF 2 ) 0% to 15% of potassium titanium hexafluoride (K 2 TiF 6 ) 0% to 24% of barium titanium hexafluoride (BaTiF 6 ), the total sum of the alkaline earth metal fluorides in said mixture being between about 40% and about 58%, the total sum of all fluorides in said mixture being between about 67% and about 80%, and the total sum of the metaphosphates being between about 16% and about 33%, b. homogenzing the molten mixture, c. cooling said resulting homogenized melt, and d. pouring the cooled melt into preheated molds.

Claim 17

In a process of producing an optical fluorophosphate glass having an index of refraction n e within the range from about 1.47 to about 1.54, Abbe number ν e within the range of from about 84.1 to about 51.0, and a high positive anomalous partial dispersion Δν e within the range of from about +10.0 to about +21.0, said process comprising the steps of a. melting a mixture essentially consisting of the following glass-forming components, in weight percent: METAPHOSPHATE COMPONENTS (A): 0% to 9% of cadmium metaphosphate (Cd(PO 3 ) 2 ) 0% to 25% of lead metaphosphate (Pb(PO 3 ) 2 ) 0% to 33% of antimony trimetaphosphate (Sb(PO 3 ) 3 ) 0% to 22% of lanthanum metaphosphate (La(PO 3 ) 3 ) 0% to 5% of germanium tetrametaphosphate (Ge(PO 3 ) 4 ) 0% to 25% of titanium tetrametaphosphate (Ti(PO 3 ) 4 ) 0% to 25% of niobium pentametaphosphate (Nb(PO 3 ) 5 ) 0% to 25% of molybdenum hexametaphosphate (Mo(PO 3 ) 6 ) 0% to 25% of tungsten hexametaphosphate (W(PO 3 ) 6 ) 0% to 9% of lanthanum orthophosphate (LaPO 4 ); FLUORIDE COMPONENTS (B): 3% to 7% of magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ) 5% to 19% of calcium fluoride (CaF 2 ) 0% to 11% of strontium fluoride (SrF 2 ) 0% to 34% of barium fluoride (BaF 2 ) 0% to 4% of cadmium fluoride (CdF 2 ) 21% to 23% of aluminum fluoride (A1F 3 ) 0% to 10% of bismuth trifluoride (BiF 3 ); COMPLEX FLUORIDE COMPONENTS (C): 0% to 6% of potassium hydrogen fluoride (KHF 2 ) 0% to 15% of potassium titanium hexafluoride (K 2 TiF 6 ) 0% to 24% of barium titanium hexafluoride (BaTiF 6 ), the total sum of the alkaline earth metal fluorides in said mixture being between about 40% and about 58%, the total sum of all fluorides in said mixture being between about 67% and about 80%, and the total sum of the metaphosphates being between about 16% and about 33%, b. homogenzing the molten mixture, c. cooling said resulting homogenized melt, and d. pouring the cooled melt into preheated molds.

Claim 18

The process of claim 13, in which the mixture of glass-forming components is molten in step (a) at a temperature between about 875° and about 930° C.; the molten mixture is homogenized in step (b) at a temperature between about 1050° and about 1180° C. within a period of time between about 10 minutes and about 25 minutes; the resulting homogenized melt is cooled in step (c) to a temperature between about 600° and about 645° C. while continuing stirring; and the cooled melt is poured in step (d) into preheated molds.

Claim 19

The process of claim 13, in which the mixture to be melted consists of the following glass-forming components in weight percent: METAPHOSPHATE COMPONENT (A): 20% to 33% of antimony trimetaphosphate (Sb(PO 3 ) 3 ) FLUORIDE COMPONENTS (B):

Claim 20

3% to 7% of magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ) 17% to 19% of calcium fluoride (CaF 2 ) 10% to 11% of strontium fluoride (SrF 2 ) 15% to 23% of barium fluoride (BaF 2 ) 21% to 23% of aluminum fluoride (A1F 3 ); COMPLEX FLUORIDE COMPONENT (C):

Claim 21

3% to 7% of magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ) 17% to 19% of calcium fluoride (CaF 2 ) 10% to 11% of strontium fluoride (SrF 2 ) 15% to 23% of barium fluoride (BaF 2 ) 21% to 23% of aluminum fluoride (A1F 3 ); COMPLEX FLUORIDE COMPONENT (C):

Claim 22

0% to 6% of potassium hydrogen fluoride (KHF 2 ); the sum total of the alkaline earth metal fluorides in said mixture being between about 46% and about 58%, by weight, and the sum total of all fluorides being between about 67% and about 80%, by weight.

Claim 23

0% to 6% of potassium hydrogen fluoride (KHF 2 ); the sum total of the alkaline earth metal fluorides in said mixture being between about 46% and about 58%, by weight, and the sum total of all fluorides being between about 67% and about 80%, by weight.

Claim 24

The process of claim 13, in which the mixture to be melted consists of the following glass-forming components, in weight percent: METAPHOSPHATE COMPONENTS (A):

Claim 25

0% to 16% of antimony trimetaphosphate (Sb(PO 3 ) 3 ) 0% to 24.4% of titanium tetrametaphosphate (Ti(PO 3 ) 4 ) 0% to 9% of lanthanum orthophosphate (LaPO 4 ); FLUORIDE COMPONENTS (B): 5% to 6% of magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ) 17% to 18% of calcium fluoride (CaF 2 ) 8% to 9% of strontium fluoride (SrF 2 ) 23% to 24% of barium fluoride (BaF 2 ) 21% to 22% of aluminum fluroride (A1F 3 ), the sum total of the alkaline earth metal fluorides in said mixture being between about 54.6% and about 55.9%, by weight, the sum of all flourides being between about 75.6% and about 77.4%, by weight, and the sum total of the metaphosphates being between about 16.0% and about 24.4%, by weight.

Claim 26

0% to 16% of antimony trimetaphosphate (Sb(PO 3 ) 3 ) 0% to 24.4% of titanium tetrametaphosphate (Ti(PO 3 ) 4 ) 0% to 9% of lanthanum orthophosphate (LaPO 4 ); FLUORIDE COMPONENTS (B): 5% to 6% of magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ) 17% to 18% of calcium fluoride (CaF 2 ) 8% to 9% of strontium fluoride (SrF 2 ) 23% to 24% of barium fluoride (BaF 2 ) 21% to 22% of aluminum fluroride (A1F 3 ), the sum total of the alkaline earth metal fluorides in said mixture being between about 54.6% and about 55.9%, by weight, the sum of all flourides being between about 75.6% and about 77.4%, by weight, and the sum total of the metaphosphates being between about 16.0% and about 24.4%, by weight.

Claim 27

A batch composition for producing a fluorophosphate glass having an index of refraction n e within the range of from about 1.47 to about 1.54, an Abbe number ν e within the range of from about 84.1 to about 51.0, and a high positive anomalous partial dispersion Δν e within the range of from about +10.0 to about +21.0, said composition essentially consisting of the following glass-forming comonents, in weight percent. METAPHOSPHATE COMPONENTS (A): 0% to 9% of cadmium metaphosphate (Cd(PO 3 ) 2 ) 0% to 25% of lead metaphosphate (pb(PO.sub. 3) 2 ) 0% to 33% of antimony trimetaphosphate (Sb(PO 3 ) 3 ) 0% to 22% of lanthanum metaphosphate (La(PO 3 ) 3 ) 0% to 5% of germanium tetrametaphosphate (Ge(PO 3 ) 4 ) 0% to 25% of titaniumm tetrametaphosphate (Ti(PO 3 ) 4 ) 0% to 25% of niobium pentametaphosphate (Nb(PO 3 ) 5 ) 0% to 25% of molybdenum hexametaphosphate (Mo(PO.sub. 3) 6 ) 0% to 25% of tungsten hexametaphosphate (W(PO 3 ) 6 ) 0% to 9% of lanthanum orthophosphate (LaPO 4 ); FLUORIDE COMPONENTS (B): 3% to 7% of magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ) 5% to 19% of calcium fluoride (CaF 2 ) 0% to 11% of strontium fluoride (SrF 2 ) 0% to 34% of barium fluoride (BaF 2 ) 0% to 4% of cadmium fluoride (CdF 2 ) 21% to 23% of aluminum fluoride (A1F 3 ) 0% to 10% of bismuth trifluoride (BiF 3 ) COMPLEX FLUORIDE COMPONENTS (C): 0% to 6% of potassium hydrogen fluoride (KHF 2 ) 0% to 15% of potassium titanium hexafluoride (K 2 TiF 6 ) 0% to 24% of barium titanium hexafluoride (BaTiF 6 ), the sum total of the alkaline earth metal fluorides in said mixture being between about 40.0% and about 58.0%, the sum total of all fluorides being between about 67.0% and about 80.0%, and the sum total of the metaphosphates being between about 16.0% and about 33.0%.

Claim 28

A batch composition for producing a fluorophosphate glass having an index of refraction n e within the range of from about 1.47 to about 1.54, an Abbe number ν e within the range of from about 84.1 to about 51.0, and a high positive anomalous partial dispersion Δν e within the range of from about +10.0 to about +21.0, said composition essentially consisting of the following glass-forming comonents, in weight percent. METAPHOSPHATE COMPONENTS (A): 0% to 9% of cadmium metaphosphate (Cd(PO 3 ) 2 ) 0% to 25% of lead metaphosphate (pb(PO.sub. 3) 2 ) 0% to 33% of antimony trimetaphosphate (Sb(PO 3 ) 3 ) 0% to 22% of lanthanum metaphosphate (La(PO 3 ) 3 ) 0% to 5% of germanium tetrametaphosphate (Ge(PO 3 ) 4 ) 0% to 25% of titaniumm tetrametaphosphate (Ti(PO 3 ) 4 ) 0% to 25% of niobium pentametaphosphate (Nb(PO 3 ) 5 ) 0% to 25% of molybdenum hexametaphosphate (Mo(PO.sub. 3) 6 ) 0% to 25% of tungsten hexametaphosphate (W(PO 3 ) 6 ) 0% to 9% of lanthanum orthophosphate (LaPO 4 ); FLUORIDE COMPONENTS (B): 3% to 7% of magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ) 5% to 19% of calcium fluoride (CaF 2 ) 0% to 11% of strontium fluoride (SrF 2 ) 0% to 34% of barium fluoride (BaF 2 ) 0% to 4% of cadmium fluoride (CdF 2 ) 21% to 23% of aluminum fluoride (A1F 3 ) 0% to 10% of bismuth trifluoride (BiF 3 ) COMPLEX FLUORIDE COMPONENTS (C): 0% to 6% of potassium hydrogen fluoride (KHF 2 ) 0% to 15% of potassium titanium hexafluoride (K 2 TiF 6 ) 0% to 24% of barium titanium hexafluoride (BaTiF 6 ), the sum total of the alkaline earth metal fluorides in said mixture being between about 40.0% and about 58.0%, the sum total of all fluorides being between about 67.0% and about 80.0%, and the sum total of the metaphosphates being between about 16.0% and about 33.0%.

Claim 31

The batch composition of claim 17, in which the potassium titanium hexafluoride is at least partly replaced by another alkali metal titanium hexafluoride and the barium titanium hexafluoride is at least partly replaced by another alkaline earth metal titanium hexafluoride or aluminum titanium heptafluoride.

Claim 32

The optical fluorophosphate glass of claim 1, in which the following components are present in about the following amounts, in weight percent: ______________________________________ Oxide components (a): Phosphorus pentoxide (P.sub.2 O.sub.5) 14.5% Antimony trioxide (Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3) 9.9% Fluoride components (b): Magnesium fluoride (MgF.sub.2) 5.7% Strontium fluoride (SrF.sub.2) 10.2% Aluminum fluoride (AlF.sub.3) 21.0%, ______________________________________ while calcium fluoride (CaF 2 ) and barium fluoride (BaF 2 ) are present in amounts sufficient to make up 100%.

Claim 33

The optical fluorophosphate glass of claim 1, in which the following components are present in about the following amounts, in weight percent: ______________________________________ Oxide components (a): Phosphorus pentoxide (P.sub.2 O.sub.5) 14.5% Antimony trioxide (Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3) 9.9% Fluoride components (b): Magnesium fluoride (MgF.sub.2) 5.7% Aluminum fluoride (AlF.sub.3) 21.0% ______________________________________ while calcium fluoride (CaF 2 ), strontium fluoride (SrF 2 ), barium fluoride (BaF 2 ), and cadmium fluoride (CdF 2 ) are present in amounts sufficient to make up 100%.

Claim 34

The optical fluorophosphate glass of claim 1, in which the following components are present in about the following amounts, in weight percent: ______________________________________ Oxide components (a): Phosphorus pentoxide (P.sub.2 O.sub.5) 14.5% Antimony trioxide (Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3) 9.9% Fluoride components (b): Magnesium fluoride (MgF.sub.2) 5.7% Strontium fluoride (SrF.sub.2) 8.2% Barium fluoride (BaF.sub.2) 23.4% Aluminum fluoride (AlF.sub.3) 21.0%, ______________________________________ while calcium fluoride (CaF 2 ) and bismuth trifluoride (BiF 3 ) are present in amounts sufficient to make up 100%.

Claim 35

The optical fluorophosphate glass of claim 1, in which the following components are present in about the following amounts, in weight percent: ______________________________________ Oxide components (a): Phosphorus pentoxide (P.sub.2 O.sub.5) 14.5% Antimony trioxide (Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3) 9.9% Fluoride components (b): Magnesium fluoride (MgF.sub.2) 5.7% Calcium fluoride CaF.sub.2) 17.3% Strontium fluoride (SrF.sub.2) 8.2% Aluminum fluoride (AlF.sub.3) 21.0%, ______________________________________ while barium fluoride (BaF 3 ) and bismuth trifluoride (BiF 3 ) are present in amounts sufficient to make up 100%.

Claim 36

The optical fluorophosphate glass of claim 1, in which the following components are present in about the following amounts, in weight percent: ______________________________________ Oxide components (a): Phosphorus pentoxide (P.sub.2 O.sub.5) 14.5% Antimony trioxide (Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3) 9.9% Fluoride components (b): Magnesium fluoride (MgF.sub.2) 5.7% Barium fluoride (BaF.sub.2) 23.4% Aluminum fluoride (AlF.sub.3) 21.0%, ______________________________________ while calcium fluoride (CaF 2 ), strontium fluoride (SrF 2 ), and the complex titanium hexafluorides are present in amounts sufficient to make up 100%.

Claim 37

The optical fluorophosphate glass of claim 1, in which the following components are present in about the following amounts, in weight percent: ______________________________________ Oxide component (a): Phosphorus pentoxide (P.sub.2 O.sub.5) 13.9% Antimony trioxide (Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3) 3.3% Lead Monoxide (PbO) 4.9% Niobium pentoxide (Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5) 2.3% Fluoride components (b): Magnesium fluoride (MgF.sub.2) 5.7% Calcium fluoride (CaF.sub.2) 17.3% Strontium fluoride (SrF.sub.2) 8.2% Aluminum fluoride (AlF.sub.3) 21.0%, ______________________________________ while barium fluoride (BaF 2 ) and the complex titanium hexafluorides are present in amounts sufficient to make up 100%.