| Material | Composition | Fused silica is predominantly silicon dioxide (SiO₂). Commercial purity depends on the feedstock and manufacturing route; high-purity grades commonly exceed 99.9% SiO₂. | Impurities can affect optical transmission, electrical behavior, and performance in high-temperature or semiconductor processes. |
| Material | Density | Approximately 2.2 g/cm³ for typical fused silica. | Useful for estimating component weight; the exact value varies slightly with composition and grade. |
| Thermal performance | Coefficient of thermal expansion | About 0.5 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ over approximately 20–300°C for typical fused silica. | Very low expansion helps components resist dimensional change and thermal shock; the value depends on grade and temperature range. |
| Thermal performance | Characteristic temperatures | Typical reference values are around 1,120°C for the strain point, 1,215°C for the annealing point, and 1,665°C for the softening point. | These are material test characteristics, not recommended continuous-use temperatures; actual service limits depend on load, environment, and design. |
| Optical performance | Refractive index | Approximately 1.4585 at 589.3 nm for a common fused-silica reference. | Relevant to lenses, windows, and optical assemblies; refractive index varies with wavelength and material grade. |
| Optical performance | Light transmission | Transmission depends on wavelength, thickness, surface finish, hydroxyl content, and grade. UV-transmitting and infrared-oriented grades are available. | Buyers should specify the wavelength range and required transmission rather than relying on a single generic figure. |
| Chemical performance | Chemical resistance | Generally resistant to many acids and common process environments, but attacked by hydrofluoric acid and affected by hot phosphoric acid and strong alkalis. | Chemical compatibility must be checked for the specific substance, concentration, temperature, and exposure time. |
| Applications | Typical uses | Semiconductor-process components, laboratory ware, optical windows, lamps, furnace components, and specialty tubing or rods. | The required purity, dimensions, optical properties, and finishing vary substantially by application. |
| Manufacturer evaluation | Purity and traceability | Request a grade-specific chemical analysis, impurity limits, batch identification, and inspection documentation. | Consistent, documented material quality is important for repeatable performance in sensitive processes. |
| Manufacturer evaluation | Processing and inspection capability | Compare demonstrated capability in forming, machining, polishing, cleaning, dimensional inspection, and defect control for the required product type. | A supplier’s suitability depends on the specification and application; capability should be verified with drawings, samples, and inspection results. |
| Purchasing | Specification to confirm | Define material grade, dimensions and tolerances, surface finish, optical or purity requirements, operating environment, packaging, and inspection criteria. | Clear specifications make supplier comparisons more meaningful than a general “top manufacturer” ranking. |