| 摘要 |
<p>A method for producing ultra-high purity, optical quality, glass articles is disclosed which involves: 1) forming a gel from a silicon-containing organic compound, such as, TEOS; 2) drying the gel to produce granules having a mean particle size of less than about 1 millimeter; 3) fully sintering the granules to produce high purity, artificial sand; 4) casting the artificial sand by conventional techniques, such as, slip casting, to form a high density, porous, green body; 5) drying and partially sintering the green body; 6) fully sintering the green body under vacuum; and 7) hot isostatic pressing ("hipping") the green body. The glass articles produced by the process have higher purity, greater homogeneity, and less IR absorption than existing, commercially available, premium quality, fused silica, glass articles. In addition, in accordance with the invention, high purity glass articles of complex shapes can be directly cast, rather than being machined or pressed from sheets of glass, as in the prior art.</p> |
