Fused Silica

Fused silica is a noncrystalline form of silicon dioxide.  Fused silica is produced using high purity silica sand as the feedstock, and is normally melted using an electric furnace, resulting in a material that is translucent or opaque. The glass has very high viscosity, and this property allows the glass to be formed, cooled and annealed without crystallizing.  Its highly cross linked three dimensional structure gives rise to its high use temperature and low thermal expansion coefficient. Fused silica has exceptional transmittance over a wide spectral range, especially in the ultraviolet.  Fused silica is chemically inert in moderate temperatures except to to hydrofluoric acid, which will dissolve it.  Fused silica is available in a number of grades for different applications.

Main points

• Near zero thermal expansion
• Exceptionally good thermal shock resistance
• Good UV transparency
• Can be lapped and polished to fine finishes
• Low dielectric constant
• Low dielectric loss
• Great chemical inertness

Uses

• High temperature lamp envelopes
• Temperature insensitive optical component supports
• Lenses, mirrors in highly variable temperature regimes
• Microwave and millimeter wave components
• Aeronautical radar windows

Click here to view fused silica in our catalog