Russian scientists have proposed a new method for producing glass for satellites and lasers

Scientists from Perm Polytechnic University have developed an environmentally friendly technology for producing ultra-pure quartz glass, which is comparable in quality to the best global counterparts from the USA, Germany, and Japan. The new method completely eliminates the use of toxic chlorine-containing substances and paves the way for the development of domestic materials for the space industry, high-power lasers, and microelectronics.

A number of high-tech industries—from space instrumentation to microchip manufacturing—place stringent requirements on materials. Satellite navigation systems, high-power laser systems, and precision lithography require materials that can withstand extreme temperatures, maintain geometric stability, and remain transparent in the ultraviolet range. One such material is ultra-pure quartz glass, which is practically pure silicon oxide. Unlike conventional window glass, it contains no soda or lime additives, ensuring heat resistance, a low coefficient of thermal expansion, and high transmittance for high-energy radiation.

Traditional production methods for this material, long concentrated in the United States, Germany, and Japan, have a number of drawbacks. The process relies on chlorine-containing substances, which generate toxic emissions and require complex filtration systems. Producing products with high UV transparency is fraught with technological difficulties due to the presence of microvoids and inhomogeneities.

Specialists from Perm National Research Polytechnic University have developed an alternative method for producing quartz glass. The proposed method eliminates the use of chlorine and harmful chemical compounds, making the process more environmentally friendly. The development is based on the introduction of an intermediate stage of high-temperature curing of the feedstock in a vacuum chamber. During this stage, a crystalline shell of cristobalite forms on the surface of the particles, which helps organize the structure and remove excess oxygen. Subsequent melting in a sealed environment produces the finished glass.

The primary criterion for assessing the quality of the material is its optical transmittance. During experiments, scientists recorded that the transmittance of the resulting samples in the ultraviolet spectrum (at a wavelength of 190 nanometers) exceeded 80%, and in the visible range, reached 90%. These figures correspond to the characteristics of the best foreign analogues currently available on the global market.

Creating a domestic production facility for ultra-pure quartz glass, equal in quality to global standards while devoid of environmental risks, could find application in the space industry, laser technology, fiber optic communications, and microelectronics. In the future, the proposed technology could be adapted for the industrial production of various types of optical glass.

Source: https://www.computerra.ru/