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Jonathan C Rowe

Robert D Shoup

Paul Maynard Schermerhorn

Julie B Chalk

This invention is directed to the production of essentially defect-free high purity fused silica glass articles, the method comprising the following steps: (a) forming a green body from silica particulates or a porous body of amorphous silica; (b) sintering said body in a chamber by raising the temperature of the chamber to above 1720.degree. C., while purging the chamber with helium or applying a vacuum to the chamber; and (c) consolidating the sintered body in a chamber by raising the temperature within the chamber to at least 1750.degree. C., introducing an inert gas into the chamber at a pressure less than about 6.9 MPa (1000 psig), and cooling the chamber while maintaining the pressurized atmosphere to a temperature at least below the annealing point of the glass. In the most preferred practice, a green body of silica particulates will be prepared via a sol-gel process.

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Horseheads, NY, United States of America

Jonathan C Rowe