As a high-quality optical material, quartz glass has a wide range of applications in optical systems, lasers, and communication equipment due to its excellent optical properties and chemical stability. However, in order to manufacture high-precision optical components, quartz glass needs to undergo a fine polishing process to ensure its surface is flat and smooth, improving its quality and performance.

Purpose and importance of quartz glass polishing

Quartz glass has excellent properties such as high hardness, high temperature resistance, corrosion resistance and transparency, but its surface usually suffers from inhomogeneities and minor defects such as holes, scratches and oxidation. These problems can affect its performance and service life. The main purpose of polishing treatment is to eliminate these surface defects, improve the surface flatness and quality of quartz glass, and reduce its surface roughness so as to extend its service life and stability.

In the field of optics, high-precision optical elements are an indispensable part of the optical system. Through polishing processing, the surface accuracy of optical elements can be realized to a sub-micron or even higher level, ensuring the precise transmission and imaging of light. In the field of lasers and optical communications, polishing can produce high-precision optical cavities and fiber optic connectors to ensure stable laser output and efficient transmission of optical signals. In addition, polishing processing is also very important in high-end optical instruments, astronomical telescopes, microscopes and other equipment.

Quartz glass polishing methods and steps

The method of quartz glass polishing is mainly divided into manual polishing and machine polishing, and can also be divided into cold polishing and hot polishing according to the different polishing conditions.

1. Hand polishing

Manual polishing is suitable for small area and does not require high precision quartz glass polishing treatment. Specific steps include:

Apply a small amount of polishing material to the surface of the quartz glass. The polishing material needs to match the hardness of the quartz glass and be chemically inert.

Use a polishing cloth or cotton gauze ball for polishing, applying a certain pressure and keeping the polishing cloth or cotton gauze ball in a wet state to avoid the polishing material sticking to the surface of the quartz glass and producing scratches.

After polishing, use clean water to clean the residual polishing material to avoid damage to the quartz glass surface.

2. Machine polishing

Machine polishing is suitable for large area and high precision quartz glass polishing treatment. Machine polishing generally uses molded grinding head, the material is polyurethane or polyester. Specific steps include:

Set the polishing time, polishing pressure and other parameters on the machine to ensure the consistency and stability of the polishing effect.

Remove bumps and scratches on the surface of the quartz glass using coarse grinding materials, including Diamond B4C, Al2O3, SiC and so on.

Use fine grinding materials to further improve the finish and flatness of the quartz glass surface, including Diamond ZrO2, CeO2, Al2O3, etc.

It is necessary to keep the surface of the quartz glass in a wet state during the polishing process, and the polishing materials should not be too much or too little, and need to be added in strict accordance with the requirements.

Cold polishing and hot polishing

Cold polishing: a mechanical polishing method, by using high hardness abrasives, specific liquids and high-speed rotation of the polishing disc, the surface of the quartz glass tiny defects will be ground until the surface finish reaches the requirements. Cold polishing can remove small surface defects without causing deformation of the material, and is suitable for repairing and polishing quartz glass and other materials with high hardness and good toughness.

Hot Polishing: Utilizing the principle of chemical reaction, under the atmosphere of high temperature and high pressure, the surface is processed through a variety of factors such as abrasive, atmosphere and temperature, so as to achieve the polishing effect. Hot polishing can better control the surface shape and precision, applicable to quartz glass, glass and other materials, molding and polishing.

Effects of Quartz Glass Polishing

The impact of polishing treatment on quartz glass is mainly manifested in the following aspects:

Improve surface quality: Polishing treatment can make up for the defects on the surface of the substrate and improve the surface flatness and quality of quartz glass.

Reduce surface roughness: Polishing treatment can reduce the roughness of the surface of the quartz glass, thereby reducing wear and fatigue phenomena, and improving its service life and stability.

Changing surface chemistry: Polishing treatment may change the surface chemistry of quartz glass, which in turn affects its physical and optical properties. Therefore, the polishing quality and method need to be carefully controlled and adjusted.

Applications of quartz glass polishing

Quartz glass polishing process has a wide range of applications in various fields:

Optical field: Through polishing processing, the surface accuracy of optical elements can be realized to a sub-micron or even higher level, which ensures the precise transmission and imaging of light.

Lasers and optical communication field: Polishing can produce high-precision optical cavities and fiber optic connectors to ensure stable laser output and efficient transmission of optical signals.

High-end optical instruments: in astronomical telescopes, microscopes and other equipment, polishing processing can make the optical surface free from damage, to ensure that the performance of optical instruments is stable and accurate.

In addition, quartz glass polishing processing is also applicable to semiconductors, optoelectronic devices, communication equipment, high temperature and corrosion-resistant chemical instruments and other fields.

Quartz glass polishing is an important processing technology, can significantly improve the surface quality and service life of quartz glass. By selecting appropriate polishing methods and materials and carefully controlling the polishing process, high precision optical component manufacturing and excellent optical performance can be realized.

Luverre Quartz manufactures and sells a wide range of high quality quartz glass, including quartz tubes, quartz plates, quartz rods, quartz windows, quartz crucibles, quartz boats, quartz flanges, quartz beakers, quartz glass instruments, and more. We can meet all kinds of customized requirements for quartz glass products.