The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 20, 1996
Filed:
Jul. 05, 1994
Julie B Chalk, Elmira, NY (US);
Jonathan C Rowe, Horseheads, NY (US);
Paul M Schermerhorn, Painted Post, NY (US);
Robert D Shoup, Hammondsport, NY (US);
Other;
Abstract
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.