Quartz Glass Window | UV Fused Silica Optical Viewport | Custom
Size & Coating Available
Overview
Quartz glass windows, also known as fused silica windows or quartz
optical windows, are precision flat components made from
high-purity silicon dioxide (SiO₂). They are widely used in
optical, industrial, and scientific applications due to their
outstanding thermal stability, high UV to IR transmission, low
thermal expansion, and excellent chemical resistance.
Quartz windows are available in various grades—such as JGS1, JGS2,
and JGS3 in China—depending on the required UV/VIS/IR transmission,
internal defects, and purity. These windows are often used as
viewports, protective covers, or optical transmission mediums in
high-demand environments such as vacuum chambers, laser systems,
and analytical instruments.
Production Principle
The manufacturing process of quartz glass windows primarily
involves the following steps:
Raw Material Preparation
High-purity silica (often >99.99%) is prepared, usually in the
form of natural quartz powder or synthetically derived silicon
tetrachloride (SiCl₄) gas.
Melting Process
The raw material is melted using one of the following techniques:
Flame fusion (for synthetic quartz): A chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method
where silicon compounds are oxidized in a flame and deposited as
SiO₂.
Electric fusion (for natural quartz): Natural quartz sand is melted in a
high-temperature electric furnace.
Blank Shaping
The fused quartz is shaped into blocks or plates and then annealed
to remove internal stresses.
Cutting and Grinding
The glass blanks are cut into specific shapes and sizes using
diamond saws or CNC tools.
Polishing
Optical-grade surfaces are achieved via double-sided polishing or
precision lapping to achieve high surface flatness, parallelism,
and low surface roughness.
Cleaning and Inspection
Final cleaning is performed using ultrasonic or chemical baths,
followed by visual and spectroscopic inspection to meet
transmission and cosmetic specifications.
Applications
Quartz glass windows are indispensable in numerous high-performance
applications:
Laser Systems
Used as output couplers or protective windows due to high damage
threshold and thermal stability.
Semiconductor Processing
Serve as viewports in plasma etching, ion implantation, and CVD
chambers due to their excellent resistance to chemical corrosion
and thermal shock.
UV Sterilization and Disinfection
Quartz windows are transparent to UV-C light, making them ideal
covers for UV lamps in sterilization systems.
Scientific Instrumentation
Used in spectroscopy, telescopes, and photonics equipment where
high optical clarity and low absorption are essential.
Aerospace and Defense
Provide radiation resistance and stability in harsh environmental
conditions.
Medical and Analytical Devices
Protect sensitive optics in imaging systems and flow cells for
UV/VIS analysis.
FAQ
Q1: What is the difference between JGS1, JGS2, and JGS3 quartz
glass?
A:
JGS1: UV-grade fused silica with high transmittance from 185–2500 nm;
suitable for UV optics.
JGS2: Standard optical quartz for 220–2500 nm; commonly used in general
optics.
JGS3: Infrared-grade quartz with transmission mainly in the visible to
near-IR range; limited UV response.
Q2: Can quartz windows withstand high temperatures?
A:Yes. Fused quartz can operate continuously up to 1100°C and
withstand short-term exposure beyond that, making it ideal for
high-temperature environments.
Q3: Are quartz windows suitable for vacuum applications?
A:Absolutely. Quartz has extremely low outgassing and maintains
structural integrity under vacuum and thermal cycling, making it
ideal for UHV (ultra-high vacuum) viewports.
Q4: What surface finish is available?
A:Windows are typically polished to a surface roughness of <10 Å
RMS. Flatness can reach λ/10 or better upon request.
Q5: How do quartz windows compare to other glass materials like
borosilicate?
A:Quartz glass outperforms borosilicate in UV transmission, thermal
resistance, and chemical durability, but is more expensive due to
its high purity and processing complexity.
Q6: Can quartz windows be customized?
A:Yes. They can be customized in terms of size, thickness, coating
(AR, HR, etc.), and shape (round, square, elliptical), depending on
specific application requirements.
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