The GPD's team of PhD-level scientists and support personnel has extensive experience and proprietary technologies with which to create unique glass materials. In addition to a fully equipped research facility, the scientists have access to specialized analytical tools such as neutron and high energy X-ray diffraction, NMR spectroscopy, HR-TEM, high temperature thermal analysis, and other testing methods.

Working with the Glass Products Division gives customers a flexible blend of expertise, technology, products, and services that can meet their needs and exceed their expectations. Our clients include NASA, Department of Energy, Air Force, National Science Foundation, and US, European, and Japanese industry.

"The Glass Products Division creates and supplies high performance glass materials to the global optics, laser, and telecommunications device markets to continually expand the opportunities and possibilities of those markets.  The GPD supports its customers through basic glass materials research, application-specific consulting and product development, independent and collaborative process technology development, and international participation in advancing the understanding of glass based materials."

The GPD has gained prominence with its development of the proprietary REAl^TM Glass materials. These materials are made from Rare Earth and Aluminum oxides. The REAl^TM Glass family includes castable optical glass and Er-, Nd-, Yb-, and other doped laser glasses, high-index lens and infrared window materials. (See the REAl^TM Glass specifications links below for more details). Glasses that can be thermally transformed into novel crystalline materials are under development.

Partially-formed (left) and polished disks made from cast REAl™ Glass rods.

Near net-shape spherical lens formed from REAl™ Glass.

Click on brochure title to view/download pdf.

Materials R&D Services – "Developing the power of glass materials^TM."

Licenses to make, use, and sell CRI-patented glass formulations and processing technologies are available. Licenses can include full technical support, technology transfer to establish manufacturing capabilities, or production of exclusive formulations.

Our unique capabilities include containerless processing equipment. Containerless, as the name implies, means that we can process glasses without using a container (levitation melting) to enable benchmarking of ultra-high purity materials and synthesis of novel glasses. We can analyze your requirements, specify, and furnish fully-equipped laboratory research systems for containerless processing of high temperature liquids and novel glasses. Systems can include: CO₂ laser beam heating, controlled atmosphere processing capabilities, and non-contact property measurement instrumentation.

The Glass Products Division issued joint press releases with NASA and the National Science Foundation on October 7, 2003. For transcripts of the release, please contact CRI Glass Products Division or visit:

National Science Foundation press release link:

NASA press release link: