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Did you know that the optical properties of fused silica extend deep into the ultraviolet range? What does this mean for technology?
Did you know? Fused quartz is a nearly pure form of silicon dioxide (SiO2), and its superior optical properties make it an important material in many scientific and technological applications. The optical transmission range of fused silica can reach deep into the ultraviolet band, which has profound scientific and technological significance and may change the way we use technology.
Basic properties of fused silica
Fused quartz, also called fused silica or silica glass, is different from other commercial glasses such as soda-lime glass, lead glass, or borosilicate glass. The latter usually have other ingredients added to change their physical and optical properties, such as lowering the melting point, changing the spectral transmission range, etc. In contrast, fused silica has higher working and melting temperatures, making it more difficult to form and unsuitable for most general applications, but it is valued for its strength, chemical stability, and low thermal expansion, particularly in lighting and scientific applications.
Manufacturing process
The production process of fused quartz involves melting high-purity silica sand. There are four main types of fused silica manufactured commercially:
- Type I: Induction of fused natural quartz in vacuum or inert atmosphere.
- Type II: Silica crystal powder fused with a high temperature flame.
- Type III: Combustion of tetrachlorosilane (SiCl4) in a hydrogen-oxygen flame.
- Type IV: Combustion of tetrachlorosilane in a plasma flame in the absence of water vapor.
These different production methods will result in different trace impurities, which in turn affect the optical transmission properties of fused silica. If water is present during the manufacturing process, hydroxyl (OH) groups may be embedded in the glass, thereby reducing the transmission efficiency in the infrared band.
Optical Applications
The optical properties of fused silica make it extremely attractive, especially in optical applications. Many optical applications of fused silica take advantage of its broad transparency range, which extends into the ultraviolet and near-mid-infrared regions. Fused silica is a key starting material for optical fiber, which is used in the telecommunications industry. Because of its strength and high melting point, fused quartz is often used as the outer shell of halogen and high-intensity discharge lamps, which require high outer shell temperatures to achieve high brightness and long life.
Other Applications
Fused silica's physical properties also make it excel in semiconductor manufacturing, where its combination of strength, thermal stability, and UV transparency make it an excellent substrate for photolithography. In EPROM (erasable programmable read-only memory), its UV transparency allows strong UV light to pass through the fused quartz window to erase data.
Purification and Reuse
Fused quartz can be recycled due to its extremely low mechanical damping properties, which makes the scientific community full of expectations for its potential for reuse. Today, fused silica is widely used as precision mirror substrates or optical flat surfaces and is used in large quantities in next-generation UV lenses.
Fused quartz has near-ideal properties, which made it much more efficient to make the first mirrors, such as those used in astronomical telescopes.
Future Challenges and Opportunities
As technology continues to innovate, the potential of fused quartz has yet to be fully realized. We can expect that in future materials science, the application of fused silica in energy storage, high-precision optical systems and a variety of extreme environments will continue to grow.
Conclusion
The optical properties of fused silica not only demonstrate its importance in current technology, but also open up the possibility of various unknown applications in the future. In the face of these exciting technological advances, how will fused quartz change our daily lives and technological progress?
