Fused Silica Windows

Product Overview:

Fused silica windows provide excellent optical clarity and exceptional durability across a wide range of wavelengths from UV ultraviolet (180nm) to infrared (over 2.3 microns). They feature low distortion, excellent parallelism, low bulk scattering and fine surface quality. This makes them perfectly suited for a wide variety of demanding applications, including imaging systems and  laser applications.

Features:

1. Optical Properties

• High Transparency: Fused silica windows are exceptionally transparent across a broad spectrum, from ultraviolet (UV) to infrared (IR) wavelengths. This wide transmission range makes them suitable for numerous optical applications, including spectroscopy and imaging systems.

• Low Absorption: They exhibit very low absorption of light, ensuring minimal loss of signal strength. This is crucial in applications such as laser systems, where maintaining the intensity of the light beam is essential.

• Excellent Refractive Index Stability: Fused silica has a very stable refractive index over a wide range of temperatures and wavelengths. This stability is important for applications where precise optical performance is required, such as in precision optics and interferometry.

2. Mechanical Properties

• High Mechanical Strength: Fused silica windows are relatively strong and can withstand significant mechanical stress. They are resistant to scratching and abrasion, which helps maintain their optical quality over time.

• Low Density: The material has a relatively low density compared to some other optical materials, making it suitable for applications where weight is a concern, such as in aerospace and portable optical instruments.

3. Thermal Properties

• Low Thermal Expansion: Fused silica has a very low coefficient of thermal expansion, meaning it does not expand or contract significantly with changes in temperature. This property is critical in applications where dimensional stability is required, such as in precision optical systems and semiconductor manufacturing.

• High Thermal Stability: It can withstand high temperatures without significant degradation of its optical properties. This makes it suitable for use in high-temperature environments, such as in furnaces or during laser processing.

4. Chemical Properties

• Chemical Inertness: Fused silica is highly chemically inert and resistant to most chemicals, including acids and bases. This makes it suitable for use in corrosive environments and in applications where exposure to chemicals is unavoidable, such as in chemical processing and laboratory settings.

• Hydrophobic Surface: The surface of fused silica is hydrophobic, meaning it repels water. This property helps prevent the formation of water droplets on the window surface, which can interfere with optical performance.

5. Other Features

• High Purity: Fused silica is made from high-purity silicon dioxide, which results in a material with very few impurities. This high purity contributes to its excellent optical and mechanical properties.

• Customizability: Fused silica windows can be manufactured in a wide range of sizes, shapes, and thicknesses to meet specific application requirements. They can also be coated with various anti-reflective or protective coatings to enhance their performance in specific applications.

Applications:

1. Optical Instruments

• Cameras and Sensors: Fused silica windows are used in high-precision cameras and sensors due to their high optical clarity and low absorption. They ensure that the maximum amount of light reaches the sensor, resulting in high-quality images.

• Telescopes and Microscopes: These windows are used in telescopes and microscopes for their excellent transmission properties across a wide range of wavelengths. This allows for precise observation and imaging in both astronomical and microscopic applications.

2. Laser Systems

• High-Powered Lasers: Fused silica windows are ideal for high-powered laser systems due to their low thermal expansion coefficient and high resistance to thermal shock. They can withstand the intense heat generated by high-energy laser beams without deforming or cracking.

• UV Lasers: They are also used in UV laser systems because of their high transmission rates in the ultraviolet spectrum. This makes them suitable for applications such as UV lithography and UV-based material processing.

3. Medical and Scientific Instruments

• Spectroscopy: Fused silica windows are commonly used in UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy. Their high transmission and low absorption properties ensure accurate measurement of spectral data across a wide range of wavelengths.

• Medical Imaging: In the medical field, these windows are used in imaging systems to produce high-quality images. They are also used in equipment such as UV light sanitation devices due to their resistance to UV degradation.

4. Industrial Applications

• Semiconductor Manufacturing: Fused silica is widely used in semiconductor manufacturing processes. Its high purity and resistance to thermal and chemical damage make it suitable for applications such as photolithography, where precise control of light is essential.

• Laser Cutting and Welding: In industrial laser cutting and welding systems, fused silica windows are used to protect the laser optics from debris and heat. They also help to maintain the stability and accuracy of the laser beam.

5. Aerospace and Defense

• Aerospace Instruments: Due to their low thermal expansion coefficient and high mechanical strength, fused silica windows are used in aerospace instruments such as satellites and aircraft sensors. They can withstand the extreme temperature changes and mechanical stresses encountered in aerospace environments.

• Military and Commercial Avionics: These windows are also used in military and commercial avionics systems for their durability and reliability.

6. Laboratory Equipment

• Vacuum Windows and Sight Glasses: Fused silica windows are used as vacuum viewports and sight glasses in laboratory equipment. Their excellent transmission properties and resistance to thermal shock make them suitable for observing and monitoring processes in vacuum or high-temperature environments.

• Chemical and Pharmaceutical Operations: In chemical and pharmaceutical laboratories, fused silica windows are used in equipment that requires exposure to chemicals and pharmaceutical formulas. Their chemical inertness ensures that they do not react with the substances being handled.

Specifications with Customized: