Method of making fused silica-containing material

摘要

This invention is directed to the production of fused silica-containing glass articles of large cross section or diameter wherein at least a surface layer thereof exhibits very high optical quality. The method involves depositing via flame hydrolysis/oxidation reaction a layer of fused silica-containing soot onto a supporting bait, essentially immediately thereafter applying a source of heat concentrated uniformly across the breadth of the soot deposit, but focused only over a relatively small area thereof, to raise the temperature within that area sufficiently to uniformly consolidate the soot in that area into a non-porous glass, and then cooling the glass to room temperature.