Scientists from Perm National Research Polytechnic University (PNRPU), in collaboration with Perm Scientific and Production Instrument-Making Company (PNPPK), have developed a method that reduces the heat treatment time of quartz glass for optical fiber, microelectronics, and laser technology by six times. This was reported by the university's press service.
Ultra-pure quartz glass is the foundation of every fiber optic cable. The modern method of its production—sol-gel technology—requires the conversion of a liquid solution into a solid gel, followed by heat treatment at temperatures above 1000 °C. This process lasts more than 60 hours and requires significant energy consumption: one melting of a 100 kg batch consumes about 3500–4000 kWh. Any deviations in the temperature regime lead to defects, and defects in the initial gel increase the processing time.
Scientists have found a way to improve the properties of the gel during its preparation. Experiments have shown that adding less than 0.1% of aqueous ammonia and ethyl alcohol allows obtaining silicon dioxide particles with fewer cracks and pores. This reduces heat treatment at 1200 °C from 60 to 10 hours, while the quality of the glass remains the same in terms of density and porosity, noted Svetlana Porozova, Professor of the Department of Mechanics of Composite Materials at PNRPU.
The method will reduce energy consumption by 80% and speed up production, which is especially important for electronics, telecommunications, laser technology, and navigation systems. The research was conducted as part of the strategic academic leadership program "Priority-2030."
Fast and energy-efficient production of quartz glass can reduce the cost of high-tech components and expand the possibilities of using the material in modern fiber optic networks, laser systems, and microelectronics, strengthening the technological independence of the industry.