Quartz Glass
Synthetic Fused Silica with optical quality
Special Properties
- Excellent transmittance of ultraviolet light
- Extreme heat resistance up to 1000 °C
- High temperature shock resistance
- Low coefficient of thermal expansion
- High-purity glass composition
- Very high chemical strength
- Low fluorescence
- Excellent electrical insulation properties
- Produced by melting the purest raw materials
Typical Applications
- UV-transparent optics
- Glass windows for ultraviolet applications
- Flame observation windows
- Substrates for dielectric coatings
- DUV-lighting applications
- Components for laser systems
- Microscope slides and cover-slips for UV-applications
- Mechanical quartz glass components
- UV-measurement technology
- Chemical resistant windows
- Glass parts for space applications
- Heat resistant optical windows
- Semiconductor technology
Get a price quote for
Quartz Glass Optics
Also available in 48 h Express-Service*
Optical Quartz Glass is Synthetic Fused Silica
Quartz glass qualities that can be used for optics consist of high-purity synthetically produced molten quartz. This type of glass is also known as "Fused-Silica". The amorphous silicon dioxide material contains practically only silicon and oxygen and is characterized by very high purity. Only such grades of quartz glass materials offer this great UV-transmittance of more than 80% already at 185 nm. This high UV transparency can hardly be achieved with any other glass.
Also noteworthy is the enormous operating temperature range and the thermal strength of quartz glass. It can be operated permanently at temperatures of 1000 °C and is very resistant to temperature changes. These exceptional thermal properties result from the low coefficient of expansion of quartz glass.
The unique chemical properties of this material are also remarkable. Quartz glass is extremely resistant to salt solutions, acids and water. The chemical resistance to bases surpasses almost all other glass types.
In addition, quartz glass has particularly good electrical properties due to its high purity. Since electrical currents can only flow through moving ionic impurities, which are marginal in quartz glass, it has a very low conductivity and therefore offers a very high insulation resistance. This is an important requirement for many semiconductor and electronic applications.
Quartz Glass Optics
We produce quartz glass optics mainly from quartz blocks, the so-called "boules". If required, the raw glass can be selected and specified for extremely low inclusions and bubbles. The index homogeneity of this type of quartz glass can be selected down to ≤ 0,5 ppm. To fabricate an optic out of a boule, the raw material is first sawn from the block, then formed into the desired shape, ground and optically polished. In this way, our company produces windows, substrates, wafers, quartz slides, laser components and other quartz glass optics on a daily basis.
Quartz Glass for Sight Glass Applications
In addition to the optics grades of quartz glass described above, we also process less sophisticated quartz glass qualities for applications that only require sight glass performance. Since the inner material quality and DUV transparency are of secondary importance for such applications, the more economical natural fused quartz glass can usually be chosen for the manufacturing of such components. Unlike Fused Silica, these glass qualities are made by melting natural quartz instead of high purity synthetic quartz. Therefore, these materials cannot offer such a high internal glass purity and homogeneity as Fused Silica. Those types of materials are therefore less suitable for demanding optical applications. However, as they offer a similarly high thermal strength and are significantly more economical than the high-end glasses described before, such material qualities are typically used for high temperature sight glasses, lamp housings, UV lighting applications, furnace windows etc. Further information and properties of these glass types can be found in our data sheet for fused quartz.
Request a Quote for Your Quartz Glass Component
To receive an offer for windows, substrates, slides or other components based on our UV-grade quartz glass material with individual dimensions, please click on the following button:
Get a price quote for
Quartz Glass Optics
Production as part of our Express Service
We also offer production of our UV-grade quartz glass as part of our 48 h Express-Service. The possible thicknesses within the express service are listed below. All these materials have double side polished surfaces. You can open a price enquiry form by clicking on the desired glass thickness below. Please select the "Express" option in the enquiry form if you would like to use this service for an additional charge.
*Express-Service glass thicknesses:
0,30 mm ; 0,50 mm ; 1,00 mm; 2,00 mm and 3,00 mm.
Specifications & Properties
Transmittance curve for optical quartz glass
Zoom in to view more details
Ultraviolet Transmission
- T > 80% at 185 nm
(only UV-grade materials = fused silica) - Transmittance of non-UV-grade quartz glass material
per inquiry
Refractive Index
- nd = 1,4585 (fused silica)
Density
- 2,20 g/cm3
Young's Modulus
- typ. 74 GPa
Homogeneity
- Homogeneity grades per inquiry
- Index homogeneities of UV-grade quartz glass materials down to ≤ 0,5 ppm are possible on demand
Inclusion Classes
- Inclusion grades to be requested
Average Coefficient of Thermal Expansion
- approximately 0,57 x 10-6/K
Viscosity
- Softening point approximately 1585 °C
- Annealing point approximately 1042 °C
- Strain point approximately 893 °C
Dielectric Constant
- εr: 3,9 (500 MHz)
Our company processes quartz glass from all leading raw glass manufacturers (Corning, Heraeus, Tosoh, SCHOTT, Saint Gobain, GE, etc.). Detailed specifications and properties of all Fused Silica and fused quartz glass qualities we process can be requested.
All given details and specifications are mean reference values and are not guaranteed. In addition please consider the "Notes on technical specifications"
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