Quartz Glass vs Ordinary Glass: Differences
What is the difference between quartz glass and ordinary glass?
- Hardness: quartz glass generally reaches Mohs 7, while ordinary glass only reaches about 5.5 to 6.
- Light transmission: quartz glass can transmit infrared and ultraviolet rays, while ordinary glass cannot.
- Color: quartz glass is generally colorless, while ordinary glass is generally colored.
- High-temperature resistance: red-hot quartz glass does not burst even when placed immediately in water, while ordinary glass bursts immediately once burned red.
- Use precautions: handle valuable quartz products with care, never exceed the rated temperature, clean before high-temperature use and avoid bare-hand contact, and never let the acidic material touch alkaline substances at high temperature.
When it comes to quartz glass, I believe that many people do not know what it is, and of course some do. It has a series of excellent properties unparalleled by ordinary glass, and is praised as “the king of glass” by experts in the field of new materials.
1. Different hardness
The hardness of the former can generally reach Mohs 7, while the hardness of the latter can generally only reach about 5.5 to 6.
2. Different light transmission performance
The former can transmit infrared and ultraviolet rays, while the latter cannot.
3. Different colors
The former are generally colorless, and the latter are generally colored.
4. Different high temperature resistance
After the former is burned red, it is not easy to burst even if it is placed in water immediately, and the latter will burst immediately once it is burned.
What are the precautions for the use of quartz glass
1. The products made are generally valuable products, so when you take the products, you must be careful and handle them with care.
2. The high temperature resistance of quartz glass is limited, so when you use it, you must not exceed the specified temperature. If it exceeds, it will easily lead to softening or crystallization.
3. If the quartz glass needs to be used in a high temperature environment, it should be wiped clean first, then soaked in laundry detergent, and then treated with alcohol. In order to avoid damage to the skin, it is recommended that you wear gloves during the operation, and you should not touch the quartz glass with your hands.
4. It is an acidic material. If it is used in a high temperature environment, it is absolutely not allowed to contact quartz glass and alkaline substances. If it is accidentally touched, it will easily lead to the decline of the anti-crystallization performance.
The quartz side of this comparison is what high purity quartz is produced for, and it explains most of the property gap.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is quartz glass harder than ordinary glass?
Yes. The hardness of quartz glass can generally reach Mohs 7, while the hardness of ordinary glass generally only reaches about 5.5 to 6.
Can quartz glass transmit ultraviolet and infrared light?
Yes. Quartz glass can transmit infrared and ultraviolet rays, while ordinary glass cannot. This is one of the key optical differences between the two materials.
Why does quartz glass resist thermal shock better than ordinary glass?
After quartz glass is burned red, it is not easy to burst even if placed in water immediately, while ordinary glass will burst immediately once burned. This exceptional thermal shock resistance comes from quartz glass’s single-component silica structure.
What precautions should be taken when using quartz glass?
Four main ones: handle products carefully because they are valuable; never exceed the specified temperature or the glass may soften or crystallize; before high-temperature use, wipe clean, soak in detergent, treat with alcohol and wear gloves instead of touching with bare hands; and because quartz glass is an acidic material, never let it contact alkaline substances in high-temperature environments, or its anti-crystallization performance will decline.
Reviewed by the Ensoll engineering team.
