The Properties of the Fused Silica

Most of the minerals found on rocks contain fused silica as its main component. There are many sources where silica can be present i.e. on huge hills, quartz crystals, sandstone, quartz sand also known as silica sand, quartzite, Tripoli, flint, opal, diatomite etc. In the initial stages of building ceramics and silicate glasses, silica is used. The two forms in which silica can be obtained are crystalline forms and also in amorphous form also known as vitreous silica. They can also be found on silicon compounds or silicon's surface in the non crystal form.

fused silica is the only pure silica with around 99.4 - 99.9% of silica present in it. This fused silica is mainly used in industries dealing with electronics and they are made by plasma arc, carbon electrode fusion or gas fired continual extrusion and carbon arc. Because of its high insulating and dielectric properties, almost 70% of the electronics industries use fused silica in its experiments.Some of them also use fused silica in investment casting or as a refractory material as when kept at high temperatures it has a capability to gain back its strength.The main properties of silica are:It is a good electrical insulator.Thermal stability of silica is very high.Has a high resistance to abrasion.

Most of fused silica is used in the production of steel by making them as silicon manganese or ferrosilicon. By mixing the gaseous mixture of hydrogen and hydrogen chloride and powdered crude metal, we can make semiconductor silicon.Electronics industries mostly use silica in its working. The main areas in electronics industries where silica is used are:Circuit boards: Because of insulating and dielectric properties, fused silica is most widely used in electronic circuits.Semiconductors: Its internal electronic structure makes it a good semiconductor and that is the reason why they are used in applications related to integrated circuits.

Refractory Materials: it has a capability to maintain its strength even at high temperatures and because of this property they are used as a good refractory material. This is mainly because silica has very high melting point, has very high abrasion resistance and low thermal expansion.Production of glasses: fused silica is the primary material used in the production of silicate glasses. They are either mixed with soda and lime which produces normal glasses which are used in windows, jars, bottles, plate glass and light bulbs. Also we can manufacture shock resistant glasses when silica is mixed with soda and boron oxide.