Quartz glass is one of the industry’s essential materials, composed of a one-component glass (SiO2). It is manufactured by melting high purity of crystal along with 99.9% of SiO2 and allowing it to cool down with a shape and dimensions desired. This glass is being utilized in a large variety of applications due to its low optical absorption, high purity, excellent elasticity, low material fatigue, high resistivity, low thermal conductivity, good electrical insulation. Also, compared to other types of glasses, quartz glass has a higher ultraviolet transmission rate. In handling quartz, certain precautions must be considered.
Shaping Quartz glass requires high skill, and using a CNC machine is highly recommended making it the most expensive glass to use. In customizing and fabricating quartz products, Shanghai Wechance Industrial Co. is highly committed to producing high-quality and excellent workmanship products. It is the leading quartz glass supplier in China with an established experience in fabricating various quartz glass products. Shanghai Wechance Industrial Co. is also open for wholesaling and retail fused quartz tube rods and plates at a very competitive price.
Properties of Quartz Glass
Quartz glass offers many excellent mechanical properties making it a “go-to” material for many applications in the industry. Below are some of these properties
Chemical Purity
A minimal amount of contaminant may compromise the thermal, electrical, and optical properties of glass. Severe measures must be taken in all the production procedures to attain the high purity of the product.
Chemical Behavior
Quartz glass does not allow fluid and gases to pass through, and it is chemically inert to most chemical compounds.
Thermal Properties
This glass has a very low coefficient of thermal expansion. Also, Quartz glass has low thermal conductivity and exceptional thermal shock resistance, which can withstand sudden temperature changes.
Mechanical Properties
Quartz glasses are used in countless industries due to their high compressive strength. However, it is prone to breaking because it also exhibits high brittleness.
Optical Properties
Quartz glasses have excellent optical transmission properties due to their purity and OH content. Additionally, it is perfect for interacting with light. It is used as a raw material in the production of lenses.
Electrical Properties
Quartz glass has a high dielectric strength making it an excellent insulator. It is used in electronic device components and semiconductors because it retains its high electrical resistivity even with a high temperature.
Applications of Quartz Glass
Quartz Glass is custom shaped and fabricated for different applications in industries like semiconductor, medical, metal fabrication, and many more. Below are some of the popular uses:
1. Optical Devices/Services
Quartz glass is suitable in optical devices as ultraviolet rays and radiation do not easily damage it. Light travels through a quartz glass with slight distortions. Common examples of quartz products used in optical devices are lenses due to their transparency and light transmittance.
2. Lighting Devices
As stated in the definition above, quartz has a relatively high purity and ideal in lamps and lighting system components. It is also utilized in lamps that generate light at high temperatures due to its low thermal conductivity property.
3. Chemical Equipment and Apparatuses
They are used as a material in glassware, plates, utensils, and tubes. However, compared to other materials, quartz glasses are expensive and can be just an alternative to some glass types that cannot withstand high temperatures.
4. Refractory Materials
Quartz glass is ideal in high-temperature processes. It is used as a material for manufacturing refractory components: crucibles, trays, shrouds, and rollers to be used in high-temperature operations, including steelmaking and glass production.
5. Attractive Jewelry and Gemstones
Quartz glass is ideal for creating jewelry and gemstones because of its desirable appearance when polished. Additionally, this material is hard and durable by nature.
6. Cutting Tools/ Sharpening Media
Quartz glass has excellent hardness because of its crystalline structure comprising strong, covalent silicon-oxygen bonds, which is why some forms of quartz glass are strong enough to deal with and act as cutting tools. Some applications include incision devices, grinding medium for tool cutters, and even for cutting weapons.
