The Uniqueness of Quartz Glass

At 10:26 am on January 3, 2019,the Chang'e-4 achieved the first soft landing and the first relay communication between the moon and the earth, and opened a new chapter of human lunar exploration.

Its successful landing after 26 days of flight is inseparable from the solar sensor (used for spacecraft orbit control and attitude control), and as a key material of solar sensor - quartz institute of China building materials general institute developed irradiated quartz glass is indispensable.

Quartz glass is known as the "crown" in glass materials. It is a glass with SiO2 as a single component. It has excellent mechanical properties, thermal properties, optical properties and electrical properties. In the semiconductor, optical devices, optical communications, solar energy and other industries, it plays an irreplaceable role.

Performance and use of quartz glass

1. High temperature resistance.

Quartz glass has good resistance to high temperature deformation and thermal shock resistance. Its softening point is close to the melting point of platinum; the average linear expansion coefficient is very low, only 1/10~1/20 of ordinary glass, which is quickly put into cold water at high temperature, and will not be broken.

Quartz glass is widely used to refine monocrystalline silicon and polycrystalline silicon due to its excellent thermal properties. The quartz crucible made of quartz glass can withstand the pressure of rapid heat treatment process such as annealing in wafer processing, and it is an indispensable material in photovoltaic industry and semiconductor industry.

2. Chemical properties

Quartz glass is extremely inactive and is a good acid-resistant material (except hydrofluoric acid) and does not react with acids even at high temperatures. It is especially suitable for high temperature acid-resistant combustion, cooling device and preparation and storage of acidic chemicals, as well as various chemical laboratory glassware.

3. Optical performance

It has good light transmission to the entire spectrum, and the optical high transmittance in the ultraviolet and infrared range is not available in general optical glass. It can be used as a prism and lens for various optical devices; high temperature operation, reactor window; optical communication Fiber and optoelectronic devices in the field; utilizing its high transmission to light, coupled with high temperature stability and thermal shock resistance, it is widely used in high temperature lamps, such as UV lamps, infrared lamps, mercury lamps, helium. High temperature lamps such as lamps and halogen lamps.

4. Electrical application

Quartz glass is an excellent insulating material. It has a resistance value equivalent to 100 times that of ordinary glass at room temperature, and is suitable for manufacturing high-frequency high-voltage high-voltage insulators.