The Basics of Fused Silica (UV) Windows:

Fused silica windows are highly transparent optical components made from fused silica, a pure form of quartz glass. They are used in a variety of applications due to their unique properties and characteristics.

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One of the main advantages of fused silica windows is their high transmission in the ultraviolet (UV), visible, and infrared (IR) spectrums, making them ideal for use in optical systems. They have a high level of optical clarity and low levels of absorption, scatter and refractive index variations, which makes them suitable for applications that require high precision and accuracy.

Fused silica windows are also known for their low thermal expansion coefficient, which means that they exhibit minimal change in their physical dimensions when exposed to changes in temperature. This makes them ideal for use in high-temperature environments, such as in laser systems, where stability is crucial. They are also highly resistant to thermal shock, which makes them ideal for use in applications that require rapid temperature changes.

In addition to their optical and thermal properties, fused silica windows are also highly durable and stable. They are resistant to mechanical, chemical, and UV degradation, making them ideal for use in harsh environment applications. They are also highly resistant to abrasion, making them ideal for use in applications that require frequent handling and cleaning.

Material Features of Fused Silica Windows:

UV fused silica windows are made of a highly pure form of quartz glass, known as fused silica. The following are some of the material characteristics of UV fused silica windows:

• Optical Transparency: UV fused silica windows have high transmission in the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum, making them ideal for use in UV optical systems. They have low levels of absorption and scatter, providing high levels of optical clarity.

• Thermal Stability: UV fused silica windows have a low thermal expansion coefficient, meaning that they exhibit minimal change in their physical dimensions when exposed to temperature changes. They are also highly resistant to thermal shock, making them ideal for use in high-temperature environments.

• Chemical Stability: UV fused silica windows are highly resistant to chemical attack, making them ideal for use in applications that require exposure to harsh chemicals.

• Mechanical strength: UV fused silica windows have high mechanical strength and durability, making them ideal for use in harsh environment applications. They are also highly resistant to abrasion, making them ideal for use in applications that require frequent handling and cleaning.

• UV resistance: UV fused silica windows are highly resistant to UV degradation, making them ideal for use in applications that require exposure to UV radiation.

• Dimensional stability: UV fused silica windows exhibit minimal change in their physical dimensions when exposed to changes in temperature and pressure, making them ideal for use in high-precision applications.

Advantages of UV Fused Silica Windows:

• High UV transmission: UV fused silica windows have high transmission in the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum, making them ideal for use in UV optical systems.

• Low thermal expansion: UV fused silica windows have a low thermal expansion coefficient, meaning that they exhibit minimal change in their physical dimensions when exposed to temperature changes.

• Chemical stability: UV fused silica windows are highly resistant to chemical attack, making them ideal for use in applications that require exposure to harsh chemicals.

• Mechanical strength: UV fused silica windows have high mechanical strength and durability, making them ideal for use in harsh environment applications.

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• UV resistance: UV fused silica windows are highly resistant to UV degradation, making them ideal for use in applications that require exposure to UV radiation.

• Dimensional stability: UV fused silica windows exhibit minimal change in their physical dimensions when exposed to changes in temperature and pressure, making them ideal for use in high-precision applications.

Disadvantages of UV Fused Silica Windows:

• Cost: UV fused silica windows can be relatively expensive compared to other optical materials such as optical glass, due to the high purity of the fused silica used in their manufacture.

• Manufacturing complexity: The manufacturing process for UV fused silica windows can be complex and requires specialized equipment, making them more challenging to produce than other optical materials.

• Fragility: UV fused silica windows can be brittle and prone to breaking when subjected to mechanical stress, making them less suitable for applications that require high mechanical robustness.

Overall, UV fused silica windows have a range of advantages and disadvantages that make them ideal for use in specific applications. The key is to carefully consider the specific requirements of each application and choose the right material to meet those requirements.

If your project demands high performance material, you may have more options than you think. Quartz, Fused Quartz and Fused Silica are all part of an extremely pure family of materials with high working and melting temperatures and superior optical properties as well as low coefficient of expansion.

While they’re often used interchangeably, the fundamental structures and creation of quartz and fused silica are different. Both are highly specialized, but their particular performances vary.

Quartz

Quartz is a very versatile, naturally occurring substance with good electrical, optical and thermal performance and corrosion resistance. In production, quartz glass or fused quartz is created from grains of natural material that are melted and purified.

Key Traits

• Crafted from naturally occurring crystalline quartz or silica grains
• Amorphous
• Non-crystalline product
• Retains some residual impurities from raw material (affects ultraviolet transparency)
• Low OH content

Fused Silica

Fused Silica is an entirely synthetic material, and is technically the purest glass. It has the highest temperature characteristics of any glass, and it often begins as pure silicon gas. Because of the way fused silica is made, it has superior ultraviolet performance to natural quartz and is ideal for applications such as UV transmitting optics.

Key Traits

• Crafted from silicon gas or silica sand (non-crystalline)
• Amorphous
• Cross-linked, 3D structure
• Significant transparency into deep ultraviolet
• Retains some residual impurities from water vapor in processing (affects infrared transparency)

High Performance Materials at Swift Glass

Both of these materials are ideal for semiconductor fabrication, technical and laboratory equipment. Distinctive features they share include:

• Extremely low coefficient of expansion (very shock resistant)
• Extremely high temperature resistance
• Exceptional optical transmission

The Swift Glass Team specializes in custom work, and we’re proud to maintain a vast material inventory. Having a wide range of choices makes it easy to find the perfect glass for your next project, but it also requires careful consideration and attention to subtle qualities.

Remember to evaluate the key traits you need, even once you’ve narrowed your search to a high-performance material:

• Thickness
• Normal Service Temperatures
• Extreme Service Temperatures
• Maximum Temperature, Thermal Shock
• Maximum Temperature, Thermal Gradient
• In/In/F Coefficient of Thermal Expansion

We stock a range of quartz and fused silica glasses from different manufacturers, each with its own particular strengths. Check our online resources and eBooks to learn more, or call the team for more insight — we’ll find just the right glass for your next project.