What are the advantages of fused silica glass?

Fused silica and quartz are two commonly employed materials in glass fabrication operations. Both substances offer unique properties that make them suitable for use in fabricated glass components. The following blog post provides an overview of the two, including their composition, key benefits, and typical applications. 

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Fused Silica Windows.

Benefits of Fused Silica Glass

Fused silica is a non-crystalline synthetic material comprised of silicon gas or silica sand. Since it is synthetically processed, it is the purest form of glass on the market, both structurally and physically. Its cross-linked three-dimensional structure results in exceptional thermal resistance and near-zero thermal expansion.

Some of the key benefits of using this glass material include:

1. High chemical purity and resistance
2. High softening point and strong thermal resistance
3. Low thermal expansion and high thermal shock resistance
4. High transparency from ultraviolet to infrared spectral range
5. High radiation resistance

Benefits of Quartz Glass

Quartz is a naturally occurring crystalline mineral comprised of oxygen and silicon. It is one of the most abundant minerals on the planet and forms in most rock types in the Earth&#;s crust. When converted into glass, it&#;s found in applications in many scientific research and other high-tech operations. 

Some of the key benefits of using this glass material include: 

1. Good transmission behavior in the ultraviolet range
2. High-temperature endurance in the visible and infrared range
3. Low coefficient of thermal expansion and high thermal shock resistance
4. Exceptional electrical insulation and high chemical purity
5. Suitability for permanent operation at ° C or short-term operation at ° C

Applications of Fused Silica and Quartz Glass

Both fused silica and quartz glass are ideal for use in many different industrial applications, including the following:

• Chemical and pharmaceutical processes. Chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing operations experience a wide range of conditions, including exposure to high temperatures, corrosive chemicals, and water. Parts and components made from fused silica and quartz are ideal for use in these environments as they are chemically pure, chemical resistant, non-hygroscopic, and thermal shock resistant.
• Electronics and electro-technology. Electronics and electronic technology rely on both conductive and insulating components. For the latter, fused silica and quartz are ideal as a construction material as they offer low conductivity, high penetration field strength, and low electric loss factor.

   

• High-temperature operations. The thermal properties of both materials allow them to withstand high processing temperatures without risk of damage or degradation.

   

• Light and laser technology. Many light-based systems (e.g., lasers) rely on glass optical components&#;such as ones made from fused silica and quartz&#;to focus or separate light to perform their operations.
• Optical system components. Fused silica and quartz are used in the manufacture of many optical parts&#;such as lenses, mirrors, UV and IR transmitting optics, and metrology components&#;due to their ability to transmit light in the visible, ultraviolet, and infrared range.

   

• Semiconductors. The purity of the two materials is particularly essential for components such as semiconductors, which play a role in many systems used in critical applications.
• UV light sanitation. UV light sanitation serves as a non-toxic alternative to disinfection. As both fused silica and quartz demonstrate high thermal and radiation resistance, they are suitable for use in equipment subjected to such operations, such as semiconductor components and medical and laboratory instruments.

     

Fused Silica and Quartz Glass From Swift Glass

At Swift Glass, we have provided quality custom glass fabrication for nearly 100 years. We stock a wide range of fused silica and quartz glasses from a variety of manufacturers, each of which offers unique advantages. For example, our fused silica demonstrates a cross-linked, three-dimensional structure that results in high thermal shock resistance, UV and IR transparency, and near-zero thermal expansion. Some of our other product offerings include: 

• Industrial- and commercial-grade fused silica and quartz for sight glasses
• UV-fused silica for applications requiring low content of inclusion and/or high refractive index homogeneity

For additional information about fused silica and quartz or our products and services, contact us or request a quote today. 

Fused Silica is part of a family of optical materials (along with quartz and fused quartz) which share properties including a high working temperature, high melting temperature and low expansion coefficient.

The term &#;fused silica&#; is often used interchangeably with the term &#;fused quartz&#;. However, fused silica exhibits superior optical and thermal properties which are distinct from fused quartz (and other types of glass) due to its very high level of purity (99.%). This is because of its manufacture from one single ingredient.

Generally for using the material in the UV ultraviolet below 250nm, Fused Silica would be more suitable material for greater transmission in this wavelength.

It is a non-crystalline glass form of silicon dioxide which is manufactured by melting crystalline silica such as sand or rock crystal.

Key properties of fused silica

As well as being referred to as fused quartz, fused silica is also called synthetic quartz.

It is manufactured from silica sand of very high purity.

The resulting transparent glass material of extremely high purity offers exceptional quality optical transmission.

For more information, please visit hyper hemispherical lens.

Properties of fused silica include:

• Extreme hardness
• Outstanding thermal properties, including very high temperature resistance
• Excellent optical transmission characteristics from UV to IR
• Low coefficient of thermal expansion
• Highly chemical and corrosion resistant
• High viscosity.

Many basic properties of fused silica are the same as fused quartz, yet there are some differences that determine which material should be used for certain applications.

For example, fused silica is typically 99.% pure, whereas the purity of fused quartz is typically 99.9%.

Small differences in purity can affect the transmission characteristics of the final product, which, for instance are superior in the UV range for fused silica compared to fused quartz.

What is fused silica used for?

Fused silica offers extremely efficient wave transmission on the ultraviolet spectrum, so is commonly used in the manufacture of UV windows, UV lenses and optics.

Large sheets can also be made for UV sterilisation for Covid applications.

Because of its low coefficient of thermal expansion, fused silica is also used in the production of precision mirror substrates, semiconductors and laboratory equipment.

Specific optical components applications where fused silica is used include:

• Windows for manned spacecraft, including the ISS
• Lenses
• Laser windows
• Beam splitters
• Mirror substrates, including in telescopes
• Laser windows
• UV and IR transmitting optics
• Subsea windows
• UV lamp windows

Because fused silica is stable for short periods at temperatures of up to degrees Celsius, it can be used in a variety of applications such as solar cells and batteries where operating temperatures are extreme.

Fused silica windows from UQG Optics

We stock a wide range of optical components, glasses and windows in fused silica from a variety of manufacturers.

These include Heraeus Spectrosil , Heraeus Suprasil and Corning .

We offer a variety of UV and AR coating options on our fused silica windows, each of which offers distinct advantages.

Download UQG&#;s fused silica material datasheet

Fused silica is difficult to fabricate and thus is the most expensive out of fused quartz and fused silica.

Silica in its basic form &#; SiO2 &#; is the most common constituent of the earth&#;s crust, estimated at 60% of the material up to the first 10 miles of depth.

There are great regional variations in silica purity across the earth.

In Europe, the highest grades of transparent fused silica glass are made from rock crystal known as geyserite which is found in Iceland, Germany, Sweden and elsewhere.

Did you know?

Because of its strength, fused silica has been used in various extreme conditions such as in deep sea submersible craft and space craft.

Fused silica was use to fabricate some of the windows on the International Space Station and, because of its high temperature resistance, it was also used on the space shuttles.

Next steps

To find out more about fused silica windows from UQG Optics, or any of our optical windows call us on or our sales team at

If you want to learn more, please visit our website UV Fused Silica Windows.