Technologies
 Raw powders
Atlas uses high purity alumna raw powder with Al2O3 content more then 99,994 % provided by one of the leader of raw materials industry.
 Crystal growth
Atlas employs the Kyropulos method to grow high purity large size sapphire single crystals. This method produces a large boule of sapphire, most typically a right cylinder. This material generally has very high optical quality, and can be cut to produce any crystallographic orientation. Atlas has an ability to grow up to 200 mm diameter crystals. Usually such a big boule cut into blanks with known orientation (A (1120), R (1102), C (0001). Advantages of the Kyropoulos method:
-Higher quality optical grade crystal growth with low defect density
-Large diameter crystals
-Less consumable then Chohralsky method
-Cost efficient
This method is used for most demanded applications such as optoelectronics, optics, watch glasses.
Atlas employs the Verneul (flame) method too. Raw powder is passed through a flame of a gaseous mixture of oxygen and hydrogen (about 2800 degrees centigrade). Crystals are grown by letting the molten Al2O3 fall on seed crystals. This is an easy method of growing crystals in a relatively short period. This method is cheaper but provides less controllable product then Kiropulos method with relatively higher quantity of internal defects. However, the chemical purity could be even higher than in the case of Kiropulos due to containerless process. This method is used for less demanded applications such as high purity crackle, technical and industrial applications.
 Processing of the sapphire crystals
Atlas has large abilities in cutting, drilling and grinding of grown sapphire crystals. We have unique wire saw made by Donec JSC. This device specially developed to high-precision cutting sapphire blanks for optoelectronics. We have special drilling machines for standard diameters 2", 4", 6". These equipments allow providing sapphire blanks from 200 to 5 mm in dimensions and any kind of shape - round, rectangular, square. Special shapes are available on request. In order to get material with certain properties annealing in various atmospheres including vacuum could be used.
 Output control
Atlas has full range of output control stages for providing of high quality sapphire blanks:   
Parameter to be controlled
Control method
Value to meet specification1 (Extra)
Metal impurities
atomic emission spectroscopy and laser mass spectrometry
less then 40 ppm totally
Dimensions
Calipers or micrometer
Tolerances from 0.1 till 0.001 mm
Total thickness variation (TTV), Bow
Micrometer
Less then 20 mkm both
Twins and block edges
visual inspection in polarized light
Absence
bubbles and inclusions
visual inspection in focused beam of light, optical microscopy
Absence
Crystallographic orientations
X-ray diffraction
standard 0.3 degree,
special - 0.1 degree.
Roughness (Ra)
Profilometer
Less then 1 mkm
Dislocation density*
X-ray topography
Less then 103
   *Available on request.