MR Fluids
MR Fluids Stretch the Limits of Optical Polishing
QED Technologies™ family of Magnetorheological (MR) fluids is formulated to deliver exceptional surface quality, removal rates, and consistency across a wide range of optical materials. Whether you’re polishing standard optical glass, IR crystals, or ultra-hard substrates, our fluids are optimized to meet your needs.
Backed by decades of research and real-world application, QED MR Fluids are a trusted tool in achieving deterministic, high-precision results with ease.
C12
C12 is the precision figure correction workhorse fluid for optical glasses. C12 is a cerium-oxide based fluid that offers a balance of removal rate and roughness. C12, introduced in 2018, has improved dispersion and suspension properties.
D10
D10 has excellent performance on poly-crystalline materials like tungsten carbide and silicon carbide. A great choice for smoothing diamond turning marks on IR optics or when you want higher removal rates.
D11
D11 is our highest removal rate fluid. Use D11 when you need to go fast or remove many microns of material. It also provides lower roughness on most materials than D10 – even on glass! A great choice for polishing large parts or aspherizing mild departure aspheres. D11 is the fluid of choice for polishing the hardest materials (e.g. sapphire).
D20
D20 is our low roughness diamond-based fluid, D20 can polish just about any material with very low roughness (as low as 2-3 A) and very low scatter. It excels at CaF2, optical glasses and other soft materials. If you’re constantly polishing a wide variety of materials, D20 can minimize the downtime of frequent fluid changes.
C30
C30, QED Technologies lowest roughness MR fluid, routinely polishes surfaces to below 1.5 A rms roughness on a variety of materials, while reducing defects and increasing the laser damage threshold of your optics. C30 produces pristine surfaces with ultra-low:
- Roughness
- Scatter
- Subsurface damage
Manufacturing Confidence – QED MR Fluids achieve sub-nanometer micro-roughness with ease.
Find the Right Fluid for the Job
Every optical material and application demands the right balance of removal rate and surface quality. This visual guide illustrates how QED Technologies MR Fluid offerings span that performance spectrum, from ultra-smooth finishing with C30 to aggressive material removal with D11. Whether you’re optimizing for speed, roughness, or versatility, there’s a fluid formulated to get you there.
*Available for purchase only by current QED Technologies customers