materials
Fused Quartz
As a high-purity material that is both cost-effective and extremely versatile, fused quartz is among the most common optical mediums for tight-tolerance component manufacture.
3.0
Relative Cost of Material
5.0
Machining Degree of Difficulty
Summary
Fused Quartz is an extremely versatile material, with its hardness, optical qualities, low CTE, good corrosion resistance, and electrical insulation characteristics all reasons that it is the chosen medium for so many applications. As a lower-purity version of Fused Silica, it is a less expensive alternative that possesses many of the same characteristics including machinability.
Mindrum Precision has been grinding, polishing, and machining components out of both fused quartz and fused silica for over sixty years, and this core competency has allowed us to be one of the best in the world at tight tolerance manufacturing in these materials. Click here for our contact information, and let us show you why so many engineers have trusted us with their mission-critical needs.
Applications
Much like Fused Silica, Fused Quartz is in use in nearly every industry; fiber optics, semiconductor, aerospace, defense, research, photonics, and many more. These components can be anything from missile radomes to light bulb components, from fluid cells in the atomic microscope to the windows in the International Space Station. As a versatile material, there are constant demands for this material, and likely will be for decades to come.
Properties
| Material Property | Fused Quartz |
|---|---|
| Density (g/cm^3) | 2.2 |
| Hardness (Knoop) | 570 |
| Tensile Strength (MPa) | 48 |
| Modulus of Elasticity (GPa) | 72 |
| Flexural Strength (MPa) | 1138 |
| Compressive Strength (MPa) | 1103 |
| Poisson's Ratio | .17 |
| Dielectric Strength (ac-kV/mm) | 50 |
| Dielectric Constant (@1MHz) | 3.8 |
| Volume Resistivity (ohm-cm @25°C) | 7.0E9 |
| Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (1 x 10^-6/°C) | 0.6 |
| Thermal Conductivity (W/m K) | 1.4 |
| Specific Heat (J/kg*K) | 669 |
| Maximum Working Temperature (°C) | 600 - 1000 |
| Index of Refraction | 1.46 |
| *Note: Properties vary by manufacturer. The above information should be used for general reference purposes only. |
related Materials
- Fused Silica – A synthetic, higher-purity version of Fused Quartz
- Borosilicate – A cost-effective, generic optical medium
- BK7 & N-BK7 – Excellent optical properties, frequent choice for windows and prisms
