Moxtek has developed several high contrast IR polarizers on silicon suitable for mid-wavelength and long-wavelength thermal IR applications using wafer-scale aluminum nanowire patterning capabilities. Between 7 and 15 μm the broadband LWIR polarizer typically has between 55 and 90% passing state transmittance and maintains a contrast ratio of better than 40 dB. A narrowband product designed for the 10.6 μm CO2 laser wavelength has better than 85% passing state transmittance and a contrast ratio of about 45dB. Moxtek has also developed a broadband MWIR polarizer that shows high contrast (>37 dB) between blocking and passing states and an exceptionally high passing state transmission (>95% between 3.5 and 5.5 μm). Transmission and reflectance measurements from a Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometer showed good qualitative agreement with optical modeling results from a rigorous coupled wave analysis package. Preliminary LDT testing and sample analysis indicated that laser damage was initiated at defects in the silicon AR coating for the LWIR product. The wires of the broadband LWIR product can withstand 110 kW/cm2 of continuous wave CO2 laser radiation at 10.6 μm wavelength in the blocking state, while the product shows an order of magnitude lower laser damage threshold for the passing polarization state. Removing the AR coating defects should improve LDT performance in the thermal IR and may also result in an increased transmittance in the passing configuration. The Moxtek MWIR polarizer has an improved AR coating and does not show the same LDT damage initiation mechanism. Pulsed laser damage threshold testing at a wavelength of 4 μm indicated the wires can withstand 650 W/cm2 in the blocking state and better than 14 kW/cm2 in the passing state.