Abstract:
Methods for producing localized crystallization in a glass article may include depositing a nucleation catalyst onto at least a portion of a surface of the glass article to form an at least partially coated surface. The nucleation catalyst may be in a solution or in a slurry. The method may include heating the glass article to a nucleation temperature and holding the glass article at the nucleation temperature to form a locally crystallized glass article comprising a crystalline phase and a non-crystalline phase. One or more portions of the locally crystallized glass article adjacent to the nucleation catalyst may include the crystalline phase and a remainder of the locally crystallized glass article may include the non-crystalline phase. The method may also include cooling the locally crystallized glass article.
Abstract:
A process for manufacturing glass articles from powder at low temperatures includes the steps of preparing a slurry of powder suspended in a liquid; depositing the slurry on a substrate; drying the slurry to form a layer on the substrate; depositing slurry on the layer; drying the slurry deposited on the layer on the substrate to form another layer; repeating the steps of depositing a slurry and drying the to form a plurality of sequential layers on the substrate; and consolidating the plurality of sequential layers to form a glass article. The process requires a small manufacturing footprint, and facilitates the manufacture of very large near-net shape glass articles.
Abstract:
A method for forming a porous soot body that includes depositing soot on a release coating supported by a bait substrate. Characteristics of the release coating control the strength of attachment of the porous soot body to the bait substrate. Weak attachment of the porous soot body to the bait substrate facilitates separation of the porous soot body from the bait substrate without damaging the porous soot body. The release coating may be formed from a brittle material or a material that oxidizes or otherwise depletes during deposition of the soot that forms the porous soot body. The release coating may include carbon. The separated porous soot body may be consolidated to form a core cane or may function as a sleeve (porous cladding) in a cane-in-soot fiber preform manufacturing process. The bait substrate is coated with the release coating in a first deposition apparatus and transferred to a second deposition apparatus where the porous soot is deposited, so that release material does not contaminate the soot deposition apparatus.
Abstract:
A silica-based substrate includes a glass phase and a dispersed phase having carbon, such that the silica-based substrate has a thickness of at least 10 µm. Also disclosed is a method of forming a silica-based substrate, the method including contacting a porous silica soot preform with an organic solution having at least one hydrocarbon precursor to form a doped silica soot preform and heating the doped silica soot preform in an inert atmosphere to form the silica-based substrate.
Abstract:
One embodiment of the disclosure relates to a method of cleaning silica-based soot or an article made of silica-based soot, the method comprising the step of treating silica-based soot or the article made of silica-based soot with at least one of the following compounds: (i) a mixture of CO and C1 2 in a carrier gas such that the total concentration of CO and C1 2 in the mixture is greater than 10 % (by volume, in carrier gas) and the ratio of CO:C1 2 is between 0.25 and 5; (ii) CC1 4 in a carrier gas, such that concentration CC1 4 is greater than 1 % (by volume, in carrier gas). Preferably, the treatment by CC1 4 is performed at temperatures between 600 °C, and 850 °C. Preferably, the treatment with the CO and Cl mixture is performed at temperatures between 900 °C and 1200 °C. The carrier gas may be, for example, He, Ar, N 2 , or the combination thereof.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for consolidating an optical fiber preform, wherein the optical fiber preform is located in a furnace comprising a muffle tube, said muffle tube comprising an inner section and an outer section surrounding the inner section. The inner and outer sections are comprised of different materials, and the preform is exposed to a pressure less than 0.8 atm while simultaneously exposing said preform to a temperature of at least 1000 C.
Abstract:
A method for making a below 200-nm wavelength optical fluoride crystal feedstock includes loading a fluoride raw material into a chamber, exposing the fluoride raw material to a flow of gaseous fluoride at a predetermined temperature, and storing the exposed fluoride raw material in a dry atmosphere.
Abstract:
A method of capturing soot includes the steps: combusting a first precursor in a burner 32 to produce a soot stream 36, the soot stream 36 comprising soot 40 and exiting the burner 32 at an outlet 33; and directing a capture medium 48 to the soot stream 36, the capture medium 48 contacting the soot in an impact region 50, the soot having a temperature greater than 50° C in the impact region. The capture medium 48 may be sprayed via a slurry nozzle 44 and the soot may form a slurry 60.