Quartz - Fused Crucible - Material Information

Fused quartz, also known as fused silica, is a high-purity form of silicon dioxide (SiO₂) characterized by outstanding optical transmission, exceptional thermal stability, and low electrical conductivity. As a non-crystalline ceramic, it is widely employed in high-temperature environments and semiconductor manufacturing, where purity and resistance to thermal stress are essential.

Material Overview

Fused quartz crucibles are produced by melting high-purity silica sand or synthetically derived SiO₂ under controlled conditions to eliminate contaminants. The resulting amorphous structure exhibits a density of ~2.2 g/cm³, a coefficient of thermal expansion as low as 0.5×10?? K?¹, and a thermal conductivity that increases from 1.3 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹ at 300 K to approximately 6 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹ at 1400 K (Chen, 2022). This combination of properties grants exceptional resistance to thermal shock and mechanical stability during repeated heating and cooling cycles. Fused quartz is transparent to ultraviolet and infrared light, with optical transmittance extending from ~200 nm to 3.5 µm, making it ideal for optical windows, mirrors, and furnace components (Warden et al., 2022).

Applications and Advantages

Fused quartz crucibles are integral to the Czochralski process for producing monocrystalline silicon wafers in photovoltaic and semiconductor industries. The material’s purity minimizes contamination of molten silicon, while its high-temperature performance supports long continuous crystal growth runs. Patented manufacturing techniques (Fang, 2011; Mu et al., 2018) have improved the mechanical strength (17–20 MPa bending strength) and reduced cristobalite formation, enhancing crucible lifespan. In addition to photovoltaic production, fused quartz is utilized in high-temperature laboratory crucibles, optics, and precision metrology instruments due to its dielectric strength, chemical inertness, and surface smoothness. These features make it a cornerstone material for high-purity, high-stress thermal environments.

Goodfellow Availability

Goodfellow supplies high-purity fused quartz crucibles designed for research and industrial applications that demand superior thermal and optical performance. Custom geometries and laboratory-scale quantities are available upon request. Explore fused quartz and related high-temperature ceramics through the Goodfellow product finder.

References

• Warden, G. K., Juel, M., Gawe?, B., & Di Sabatino, M. (2022). Recent developments on manufacturing and characterization of fused quartz crucibles for monocrystalline silicon for photovoltaic applications. Open Ceramics, 10(321). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceram.2022.100321
• Chen, J. (2022). Thermal conductivity of fused quartz at various temperatures. Zenodo Dataset. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7240166
• Fang, Q. (2011). Fused quartz crucible for polysilicon ingots. Patent Publication.
• Mu, R., Long, L., Fu, K., Xu, L., Wu, Y., & Guo, D. (2018). Fused quartz crucible for polycrystalline silicon cast ingots and preparation method of fused quartz crucible. Patent Publication.
• Mai, H. (2017). Preparation method of novel fused quartz crucible. Patent Publication.