Potassium Bromide is grown in diameter up to 300 mm. KBr lenses and prisms are available at request. Because of its low absorption, Sodium Chloride is being used in high power laser systems. Polished surfaces must be protected from moisture by exposing to only dry atmosphere or by using a heating element to maintain the Sodium Chloride above the ambient temperature. The material is sensitive to thermal shock.
Irradiation generates color centers.
Potassium Chloride is soluble in water and polished surfaces must be protected from moisture. It is principally used for infrared prisms and cell windows. Cesium Iodide is also furnished as Thallium activated Cesium Iodide for scintillation crystals. Being relatively soft, this material has found application in satellite-borne radiation detectors, which must withstand extreme shock and vibration along with rapid temperature changes. Cesium Iodide precipitated powders are used in solid phase pelleting of samples for infrared spectroscopy.