Fused Silica and Quartz are both extremely pure materials featuring very low thermal expansion and excellent optical qualities. They both work well as high temperature view ports, optical windows, and in areas that require good chemical resistance.
The main difference between the two is that Fused Silica is composed of a non-crystalline silica glass, while Quartz is made from crystalline silica. This difference gives Fused Silica very high transmission in the UV spectrum compared to that of Quartz. Quartz also features a much lower OH content.
The Abrisa Industrial Glass (AIG) division offers two options:
Corning® 7980 Fused Silica
Corning® 7980 is a very pure, non-crystalline silica glass. It features very low thermal expansion and excellent optical qualities, including very high transmission in the UV spectrum.
Availability:
- Thickness – 1.6 mm
- Size – up to 6.5″ x 6.5″
GE 124 Fused Quartz
GE 124 is a very pure fused quartz, made from crystalline silica. GE 124 is very similar to fused silica, with the exception of less transmission in the UV spectrum and much lower OH content. Other features besides its purity include excellent thermal properties and high resistance to chemicals.
Availability:
- Thickness – up to 4″
- Size – up to 36″ Diameter