Quartz glass is an extremely versatile material used in a range of different applications. General, high OH contents means lower use temperature. Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0. http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/glass Clean quartz glass products with non-alkaline detergents and / or isopropyl alcohol. As a result, this allows or blocks certain wavelengths. For fused quartz the amount is approximately 20 ppm and consists primarily of Al2O3 with much smaller amounts of alkalis, Fe2O3, TiO2, MgO and ZrO2. The plasma fused quartz has very low bubble content and has no drawing line. Quartz also exhibits a number of other properties. Glass does not contain the internal subdivisions associated with grain boundaries in polycrystals, so it does not scatter light in the same manner as a polycrystalline material. OH content Surface condition is very important. The inside crucible is maintained in a neutral or slightly reduced atmosphere that keeps silica from reacting with the refractory metal while the silica is melted inside. For example, machined surfaces tend to be weaker than fire polished ones. However, quartz allows tailoring of its properties for optimal performance in applications. Similarly, if the number of pieces in service increases, so does the chance of experience a failure. Public domain. Today, a crystal oscillator is a common piezoelectric use for quartz: the vibration frequency of the crystal is used to generate an electrical signal of very precise frequency. Piezoelectricity is the ability to develop an electric potential upon the application of mechanical stress. Vitreous Silica is the generic term used to describe all types of silica glass, and manufacturers refer to the material as either Fused Quartz or Fused Silica. Fingerprints and the associated alkali traces should be removed before use with cleaning alcohol. Chalcedony is a cryptocrystalline form of silica consisting of fine intergrowths of quartz and its monoclinic polymorph, moganite. Today, a crystal oscillator is a common piezoelectric use for quartz. In the batch fusion process, several tons of raw material are placed inside a refractory vacuum chamber containing graphite heating elements to produce tubes, rods and so on. By using this website you agree to the use of cookies. glassA solid, transparent substance made by melting sand with a mixture of soda, potash, and lime. Above all, quartz is a versatile glass. Plasma fusion is a 2-step process. Rinse with deionized (distilled) water. Glasses are typically brittle and optically transparent. Sulfur, together with carbon and iron salts, is used to form iron polysulfides and produce amber glass ranging from yellowish to almost black. The average CTE value for quartz glass at about 5.0 × 10-7/ °C is many times lower than that of other common materials. The surface of a glass is often smooth—during glass formation, the molecules of the supercooled liquid are not forced to dispose in rigid crystal geometries. Purity is crucial for most industrial applications and processes. CC BY-SA 3.0. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartz In addition to metallic impurities, fused quartz and fused silica also contain water present as OH units. Quartz glass has a very low coefficient of thermal expansion, high temperature resistance, excellent chemical stability, excellent electrical insulation, low and stable ultrasonic delay properties, the best performance of UV transmission spectrum properties and visible & near-infrared transmittance. Wikipedia Dry in a clean environment, then the fastest possible packaging or processing. Also, older surfaces are usually weaker than younger ones due to exposure to dust, moisture or general wear and tear. The purities of fused quartz and fused silica are outstandingly high. As a result of this dependence on probability, reliability decreases as the size of the glass article increases. Excellent electrical properties make quartz glass an ideal material for applications in semiconductor technology. Glass has the ability to refract, reflect, and transmit light according to the principles of geometrical optics. Special precautions must be taken at all stages of manufacture to maintain high purity. The low OH makes electrically fused quartz glass has a high infrared transmission. Among these are because of its low coefficient of thermal expansion, high gas permeability, and extensive optical transmission. Wikimedia%252520Commons Quartz crystals have piezoelectric properties. These factors have to be considered thoroughly when comparing the strengths of different “brands” of quartz glass. Quartz adjusts for different transmission curves. Fused quartz glass is inert to most of chemical components; for this reason the material is widely used in the chemical industry and test laboratories. The average CTE value for quartz glass at about 5.0 × 10-7/ °C is many times lower than that of other common materials. Wikipedia A glass melt can also acquire an amber color from a reducing combustion atmosphere. OH content influences the physical properties like attenuation and viscosity. Purity is mostly determined by the raw material, the manufacturing method and subsequent handling procedures. In the continuous process, quartz sand is continuously poured into the upper part of a tungsten crucible surrounded by electric heating elements. Plasma fused quartz has low OH usually below 5ppm, so it has good infrared transmission. Quartz is an abundant mineral made up of a continuous framework of SiO. They can also influence the properties of material processed in contact with the quartz glass during the final use application. 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