| 摘要 |
A method of forming an article, such as a low loss optical waveguide, by applying to a starting member a layer of glass soot to form a porous body. The porous body is then placed in a controlled environment in which a predetermined desired concentration of gases is maintained. The porous body is heated below the sintering temperature of the glass to permit entrapped gas to escape therefrom and the temperature is maintained until an equilibrium is reached between the partial pressure of the entrapped gas in the porous body and the partial pressure of the same gas in said environment. Thereafter, the porous body is further heated to at least the sintering temperature of the glass to sinter the soot particles and to form a consolidated dense member which may thereafter be formed into a desired shape while within said environment. |
