AgCl
AgCl is a ductile, non-hygroscopic silver halide crystal transmitting 0.4–28 µm, available as single crystal, polycrystal and AgCl–AgBr mixed compositions.
Reference datasheet — AgCl is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the SC condition
AgCl tempers and conditions
AgCl is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard. SC is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AgCl–AgBr | Choose when transmission must be extended past 20 µm or when drawing flexible CO2/thermal-imaging IR fibres. | 25 | 25 | 12 HV | 1 W/m·K | |
SCDefault Single-crystal optical grade | Choose for the highest transmission and lowest scatter IR windows, ATR prisms and lenses over 0.4–28 µm. | 26 | 20 | 10 HV | 1 W/m·K | |
Polycrystalline hot-pressed / extruded sheet and rod | Choose for cheap thick gaskets, cold-flow seals, ATR blanks and large-area windows where slight scatter is acceptable. | 32 | 15 | 13 HV | 1 W/m·K |
What is AgCl?
AgCl is a ductile, non-hygroscopic silver halide crystal transmitting 0.4–28 µm, available as single crystal, polycrystal and AgCl–AgBr mixed compositions. With a 20 GPa elastic modulus, 26 MPa tensile strength and 20% elongation it can be rolled, extruded and coined, so it is used for IR windows, fibres and formed gaskets where moisture resistance matters. It is limited to 200 °C, darkens on light exposure and on contact with aluminium or copper, and is too soft for exposed optical surfaces. AgBr reaches further into the far IR; ZnSe is stiffer and easier to coat. AgCl has a density of 5.56 g/cm³ (0.201 lb/in³), heavier than 95% of glass grades. It melts at 455°C (851 °F). AgCl has a tensile strength of 26 MPa (3.77 ksi), weaker than 86% of glass grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 20 GPa (2.9 Msi).
What is AgCl used for?
- IR windows
- IR fiber optics
- electrochemical reference electrodes
Advantages
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 20%, better than 98% of glass grades
Limitations
- Hard to polish — 40/100, worse than 97% of glass grades
- Heavy — 5.56 g/cm³ (0.201 lb/in³), worse than 95% of glass grades
- Low stiffness — 20 GPa (2.9 Msi), worse than 93% of glass grades
- High embodied carbon — 80 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 92% of glass grades
- Limited service temperature — 200°C (392 °F), worse than 88% of glass grades
AgCl properties
Typical room-temperature values for AgCl-SC; bars are the position among glass grades.
Physical5
AgCl has a density of 5.56 g/cm³ (0.201 lb/in³), heavier than 95% of glass grades. It melts at 455°C (851 °F).
Mechanical13
AgCl has a tensile strength of 26 MPa (3.77 ksi), weaker than 86% of glass grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 20 GPa (2.9 Msi).
Thermal5
AgCl is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 1.2 W/m·K (0.664 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 61% of glass grades. Thermal expansion is 30 µm/m·K (16.7 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
AgCl has an electrical resistivity of 1×10⁹ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is very good (70/100), worse than 58% of glass grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of AgCl takes about 1,200 MJ of energy and emits 80 kg of CO₂ — more than 92% of glass grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability2
AgCl's machinability is poor (30/100, better than 71% of glass grades).
Common Calculations4
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the glass family
Yield strength against density for every glass grade FabDigit runs. AgCl is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with AgCl
Is AgCl easy to machine?
Extremely soft and gummy — single-point diamond turning with light cuts, or shear/punch cold; avoid abrasive grinding which smears and embeds silver.
Can AgCl be welded?
Not welded; parts are cold-pressed, extruded or diffusion-bonded silver-halide to silver-halide at 150–250 °C.
Can AgCl be formed, bent or molded?
Fully ductile: can be cold rolled, extruded into sheet, rod and fibre, and coined into gaskets or ATR prism shapes without cracking.
AgCl chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Agstoichiometric silver | 75 – 75.5 | 75.26 |
| Clstoichiometric chlorine | ≥ 24.5 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on AgCl?
Diamond-turn or lightly polish with soft cloth and dilute thiosulfate-free slurry; store in the dark and handle with gloves — light exposure and contact with Al/Cu darkens the surface; AR coatings must be low-temperature deposited.
How much does AgCl cost?
AgCl is a high-cost glass ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
AgCl — frequently asked
What is AgCl used for?
AgCl is typically used for IR windows, IR fiber optics and electrochemical reference electrodes. In short: ductile IR crystal; non-hygroscopic KBr alternative; light-sensitive, store dark.
What is the tensile strength of AgCl?
AgCl has a typical tensile strength of 26 MPa (3.77 ksi) — weaker than 86% of glass grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is AgCl easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, better than 71% of glass grades). Extremely soft and gummy — single-point diamond turning with light cuts, or shear/punch cold; avoid abrasive grinding which smears and embeds silver.
Can AgCl be welded?
Not welded; parts are cold-pressed, extruded or diffusion-bonded silver-halide to silver-halide at 150–250 °C.
What surface finishes work on AgCl?
Diamond-turn or lightly polish with soft cloth and dilute thiosulfate-free slurry; store in the dark and handle with gloves — light exposure and contact with Al/Cu darkens the surface; AR coatings must be low-temperature deposited.
Can AgCl be formed, bent or molded?
Fully ductile: can be cold rolled, extruded into sheet, rod and fibre, and coined into gaskets or ATR prism shapes without cracking.
What is the maximum service temperature of AgCl?
AgCl is rated for continuous use to about 200°C (392 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does AgCl cost?
AgCl is a high-cost glass ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics — silver chloride physical data — CRC Press (2022)
- Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids — Academic Press (1998)
- Silver Chloride (AgCl) IR optical material data — Crystran Ltd (2023)
- IR crystal materials comparison tables — ISP Optics / LightPath (2022)
- Infrared fibre and silver-halide crystal property data — SPIE / journal literature (2019)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.