Top 10 Companies in the CVD Zinc Sulfide Market (2025): Market Leaders Shaping Advanced Optoelectronics

In Business Insights
December 03, 2025

The Global CVD Zinc Sulfide Market is a critical segment of the advanced materials industry, with its value deeply embedded in high-performance optical and semiconductor applications. The market was valued at an estimated multi-million dollar scale in 2021 and is projected to reach a significantly higher valuation by 2028, growing at a steady Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR). This growth is primarily driven by escalating demand from the defense and aerospace sectors for infrared (IR) windows and domes, expanding semiconductor manufacturing, and the increasing adoption of high-power laser systems requiring robust optical components.

As industries push the boundaries of technology in thermal imaging, laser optics, and semiconductor lithography, the demand for high-purity, durable materials like CVD Zinc Sulfide is intensifying. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the CVD Zinc Sulfide Industry—a group of specialized manufacturers and material scientists who are defining the standards for performance and reliability in this high-tech field.

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🔟 1. II-VI Incorporated (now Coherent Corp.)

Headquarters: Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, USA
Key Offering: Cleartran® (ZnS), Standard Grade ZnS, Multispectral ZnS

II-VI Incorporated, now operating under Coherent Corp. following a major merger, is a global leader in engineered materials and optoelectronic components. The company is a premier manufacturer of Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) Zinc Sulfide, offering various grades tailored for specific transmission bands from the visible to the infrared spectrum. Their materials are essential for aerospace, defense, and industrial applications.

Innovation and Market Leadership:

  • Pioneer in the development of Cleartran®, a water-clear form of ZnS for visible to mid-IR applications
  • Extensive R&D focused on improving material hardness and environmental durability
  • Global supply chain supporting major defense contractors and commercial OEMs

9️⃣ 2. Materion Corporation

Headquarters: Mayfield Heights, Ohio, USA
Key Offering: CVD Zinc Sulfide for IR optics, Custom optical materials

Materion Corporation is a leading advanced materials supplier with a strong focus on performance-critical applications. Their expertise in CVD processes allows them to produce high-quality Zinc Sulfide components with excellent transmission in the 8-12 micron atmospheric window, making them ideal for thermal imaging systems used in missile domes, surveillance, and navigation.

Innovation and Market Leadership:

  • Specializes in large-area CVD ZnS plates for demanding aerospace applications
  • Integrated capabilities from material synthesis to precision optical fabrication
  • Strong focus on meeting stringent military specifications (MIL-SPEC)

8️⃣ 3. R.A. Miller Industries, Inc. (acquired by Materion)

Headquarters: Amherst, New York, USA (legacy)
Key Offering: High-purity CVD Zinc Sulfide

Historically a key independent player, R.A. Miller Industries was a renowned manufacturer of CVD-grown crystalline materials, including Zinc Sulfide and Zinc Selenide. Its acquisition by Materion significantly consolidated the advanced optical materials market, combining Miller’s specialized CVD expertise with Materion’s broader materials science platform.

Innovation and Market Leadership:

  • Legacy of expertise in producing optical-grade CVD ZnS with minimal scatter and absorption
  • Technology and intellectual property now integrated into Materion’s advanced materials portfolio
  • Played a critical role in supplying components for legacy and next-generation defense systems

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7️⃣ 4. Tydex LLC

Headquarters: St. Petersburg, Russia
Key Offering: CVD ZnS substrates, IR optical components, Custom lenses and windows

Tydex is a well-established Russian company specializing in optics for scientific and industrial applications. They are a significant supplier of CVD Zinc Sulfide materials, particularly in Eastern Europe and Asia, offering both raw substrates and finished optical components. Their products are used in spectroscopy, laser technology, and thermal imaging.

Innovation and Market Leadership:

  • Provides a range of ZnS grades suitable for different laser wavelengths and IR bands
  • Capabilities include precision polishing and coating of ZnS components
  • Strong presence in the academic and research institution market

6️⃣ 5. Crystaltechno Ltd.

Headquarters: Moscow, Russia
Key Offering: CVD Zinc Sulfide, Single crystals, Polycrystalline materials

Crystaltechno is another key Russian player focused on the growth and processing of crystalline materials for optoelectronics. The company has expertise in various deposition techniques, including CVD, to produce Zinc Sulfide with high optical quality for a range of commercial and specialized applications.

Innovation and Market Leadership:

  • Develops materials for both mid-wave and long-wave infrared systems
  • Offers custom-shaped and sized ZnS blanks for OEM integrators
  • Active in R&D for improving the erosion resistance of ZnS for harsh environments

5️⃣ 6. Vital Materials Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Shenzhen, China
Key Offering: High-purity Zinc Sulfide powder, CVD precursers, Infrared materials

Vital Materials is a leading global supplier of high-purity metals, chemicals, and materials. The company plays a crucial role in the CVD Zinc Sulfide supply chain by providing the high-purity zinc and sulfur precursors required for the CVD process. They also engage in the production of finished optical materials, strengthening Asia’s self-reliance in this critical technology area.

Innovation and Market Leadership:

  • Vertical integration from raw materials to advanced functional materials
  • Significant production capacity for CVD-grade starting materials
  • Strategic focus on serving the growing Asian optoelectronics and semiconductor markets

4️⃣ 7. ALB Materials Inc.

Headquarters: Zhejiang, China
Key Offering: CVD Zinc Sulfide, Sputtering targets, High-purity metals and compounds

ALB Materials Inc. is a specialized supplier of high-purity materials for research and industry. The company offers CVD Zinc Sulfide among its extensive portfolio of advanced materials, catering to universities, research labs, and industrial clients engaged in developing new optical and electronic devices.

Innovation and Market Leadership:

  • Provides small-scale, high-purity ZnS materials for R&D and prototyping
  • Global distribution network ensuring accessibility for research institutions
  • Focus on consistency and purity for experimental and low-volume production needs

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3️⃣ 8. Hellma GmbH & Co. KG

Headquarters: Müllheim, Germany
Key Offering: Precision optics, Cuvettes, IR materials including ZnS components

Hellma is a world-renowned German company known for its high-precision optical components, primarily for analytical spectroscopy. While not a primary bulk ZnS manufacturer, Hellma is a key value-added player, sourcing high-quality CVD Zinc Sulfide and fabricating it into precise windows, lenses, and cells for laboratory and industrial analytical instruments.

Innovation and Market Leadership:

  • Expertise in fabricating complex geometries and ultra-high surface finishes on ZnS
  • Reputation for metrology-grade quality and precision
  • Serves the high-end analytical, pharmaceutical, and chemical processing industries

2️⃣ 9. Umbrella US-based Specialty Chemical/Defense Suppliers

Representative: Various specialized defense contractors and labs
Key Offering: Proprietary ZnS formulations, R&D-driven material solutions

This category encompasses several US-based entities, including divisions of large defense contractors (e.g., Raytheon Technologies, Lockheed Martin) and federally funded research and development centers (e.g., MIT Lincoln Lab, Sandia National Labs). These organizations often possess proprietary CVD capabilities for ZnS, primarily focused on developing next-generation materials for classified or highly specialized defense and aerospace applications, rather than commercial sales.

Innovation and Market Leadership:

  • Frontier R&D in nanostructured and composite ZnS materials for enhanced performance
  • Development of coatings to improve the durability and hardness of ZnS components
  • Focus on pushing the limits of transmission, strength, and resistance to extreme conditions

1️⃣ 10. Regional and Niche Specialists (e.g., Hyperion Optics, UQG Ltd.)

Headquarters: Various global locations
Key Offering: Custom ZnS optics, Fabrication services, Small-batch production

The market also includes several regional specialists and optical fabricators. Companies like Hyperion Optics (China/US) and UQG Ltd. (UK) may not grow the CVD ZnS material itself but are critical partners in the value chain. They purchase ZnS blanks from primary manufacturers and provide precision machining, polishing, and coating services to create finished optics tailored to specific customer system requirements.

Innovation and Market Leadership:

  • Agile manufacturing for prototype and low-to-medium volume production
  • Expertise in achieving complex optical prescriptions and tight tolerances
  • Provide essential finishing services that enable the final integration of ZnS into functional systems

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🔬 Outlook: The Future of CVD Zinc Sulfide is Brighter and More Durable

The CVD Zinc Sulfide market is evolving beyond its traditional defense roots. While military applications for infrared systems remain a cornerstone, new opportunities are emerging in commercial sectors, demanding materials that are not only optically superior but also more cost-effective and durable.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

  • Multi-Spectral Domination: Increasing demand for materials like Multispectral ZnS (MSZN) that provide transparency from visible to long-wave IR, enabling simpler, lighter optical systems.
  • Durability Enhancement: Intensive R&D into functional coatings and material composites to solve ZnS’s inherent softness and vulnerability to rain erosion and abrasion.
  • Commercialization of High-Power Lasers: Growth in industrial laser processing (welding, cutting) and directed energy applications, driving need for robust laser optics.
  • Geographical Diversification: Efforts in Asia, particularly China, to build domestic CVD ZnS production capacity to reduce reliance on Western suppliers for critical defense and industrial components.

Get Full Report Here:
CVD Zinc Sulfide Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies profiled are at the forefront of material science, not just supplying a commodity but enabling technological advancement across defense, aerospace, and industrial sectors. Their continuous innovation ensures that CVD Zinc Sulfide will remain a critical material for seeing, sensing, and directing energy in an increasingly complex technological world.