Spinel is a naturally occurring mineral that is popular in the jewelry industry, but also has many commercial applications. The cubic crystal structure produces a very transparent single crystal, thus making a wonderful quality gemstone. In the polycrystalline form, spinel is still highly transparent from the near ultraviolet (UV) region of the spectrum, through the visible (VIS) and well into the mid-wave infrared region (IR).

CeraNova uses a transparent polycrystalline form of magnesium aluminate spinel (MgAl2O4) in several optical applications. Unique to CeraNova’s spinel material is its high optical quality combined with high strength. CeraNova’s transparent polycrystalline spinel has strength two to three times higher than the strength of other spinels on the market. Combined with CeraNova’s near net shape forming manufacturing and free form fabrication capabilities, optics that were previously not available are readily produced. Flat plates from millimeters up to a meter are available, as well as spherical and aspherical optical components.