Abstract:
In producing silica glass, which may contain additional metal(s) such as Ti or Zr, from a solution of a silicon alkoxide, mixed with alkoxide(s) of the additional metal(s) where necessary, in water and a hydrophilic organic solvent by shaping the solution into a desired form such as a coating film on a substrate, self-supporting film, fiber or lump when the solution exhibits a suitably high viscosity and sufficiently heating the shaped solution, a water-soluble organic polymeric substance is added to the solution as a viscosity adjusting agent to soon increase the viscosity of the solution to the desirable level. Therefore, shaping of the solution can be performed without awaiting the progress of hydrolysis of the alkoxide in the solution, and the glass can be obtained with improved uniformity of its properties. A cellulose ether is preferred as the viscosity adjusting agent, and hydroxypropyl cellulose is particularly preferable.
Abstract:
This invention relates to the immobilization of toxic, e.g., radioactive materials, internally in a silicate glass or silica gel matrix for extremely long periods of time. Toxic materials, such as radioactive wastes containing radioactive anions, and in some cases cations, which may be in the form of liquids, or solids dissolved or dispersed in liquids or gases, are internally incorporated into a glass matrix, having hydrous organofunctionalsiloxy groups, e.g., hydrous aminoalkylsiloxy or carboxyorganosiloxy, bonded to silicon atoms of said glass and/or hydrous polyvalent metals bonded to silicon atoms of said glass through divalent oxygen linkages or otherwise immobilized therein, by a process which involves the ion exchange of said toxic, radioactive anions with hydroxyl groups attached to said organofunctionalsiloxy groups or with hydroxyl groups attached to the hydrous polyvalent metal. Thereafter, the resulting glass now characterized by a distribution of internally bonded or immobilized, toxic, radioactive anions can be packaged in suitable containers, and disposed of as by burial, and/or they can be sintered to collapse the pores thereof prior to disposal or for producing useful radiation sources. The porous glass or a porous silica gel having said silicon-bonded organofunctionalsiloxy groups and/or said hydrous polyvalent metal oxy groups, the pores of said glass or silica gel remaining open and uncollapsed, can be used advantageously as a backfill for an underground radioactive waste burial site and as overpack in the waste disposal container. Also included is a novel method for bonding the polyvalent metal to the porous silica glass or gel by substituting the protons of the silicon-bonded hydroxyl groups thereof with an alkali metal or ammonium cation followed by displacement of said cation with the non-radioactive polyvalent metal cation.
Abstract:
A method is disclosed wherein high purity fused silica is produced from a liquid flowable form of a silica slurry or sol and the refractoriness of the fused silica is enhanced by homogeneously doping the silica with aluminum and/or titanium oxide, preferably in conjunction with elemental silicon.
Abstract:
Glasses containing silicon dioxide (SiO2) and/or boron oxide (B2O3) as glass formers and having a refractive index nd of greater than or equal to 1.80, as measured at 587.56 nm, a density of less than or equal to 5.5 g/cm3, as measured at 25° C., and a high transmittance to, particularly to blue light, are provided. Optionally, the glasses may be characterized by a high transmittance in the visible and near-ultraviolet (near-UV) range of the electromagnetic spectrum and/or good glass forming ability.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a moldable nanocomposite for producing a transparent article made of multicomponent fused silica glass, the moldable nanocomposite comprising: an organic binder; and a fused silica glass powder dispersed in the organic binder, the fused silica glass powder comprising fused silica glass particles having a diameter in the range from 5 nm to 500 nm, wherein the fused silica glass powder is pre-modified with a dopant and/or wherein at least one non-crystalline modifying agent is contained in the moldable nanocomposite and one or more dopant reagents selected from organoelement compounds, metal complexes and salts are contained in the moldable nanocomposite as the at least one non-crystalline modifying agent, and wherein the content of the fused silica glass powder in the moldable nanocomposite is at least 5 parts per volume based on 100 parts per volume of the organic binder. Further, the present invention relates to a method of producing a transparent article made of multicomponent fused silica glass.
Abstract:
Glasses containing silicon dioxide (SiO2) and/or boron oxide (B2O3) as glass formers and having a refractive index nd of greater than or equal to 1.80, as measured at 587.56 nm, a density of less than or equal to 5.5 g/cm3, as measured at 25° C., and a high transmittance to, particularly to blue light, are provided. Optionally, the glasses may be characterized by a high transmittance in the visible and near-ultraviolet (near-UV) range of the electromagnetic spectrum and/or good glass forming ability.
Abstract:
A method of forming a doped silica-titania glass is provided. The method includes blending batch materials comprising silica, titania, and at least one dopant. The method also includes heating the batch materials to form a glass melt. The method further includes consolidating the glass melt to form a glass article, and annealing the glass article.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a mask blank substrate for use in lithography, wherein the main surface on which the transfer pattern of the substrate is formed has a root mean square roughness (Rms) of not more than 0.15 nm obtained by measuring an area of 1 μm×1 μm with an atomic force microscope, and has a power spectrum density of not more than 10 nm4 at a spatial frequency of not less than 1 μm−1.
Abstract:
A glass composite for use in Extreme Ultra-Violet Lithography (EUVL) is provided. The glass composite includes a first silica-titania glass section. The glass composite further includes a second doped silica-titania glass section mechanically bonded to a surface of the first silica-titania glass section, wherein the second doped silica-titania glass section has a thickness of greater than about 1.0 inch.
Abstract:
Silica-titania glasses with small temperature variations in coefficient of thermal expansion over a wide range of zero-crossover temperatures and methods for making the glasses. The method includes a cooling protocol with controlled anneals over two different temperature regimes. A higher temperature controlled anneal may occur over a temperature interval from 750-950° C. or a sub-interval thereof. A lower temperature controlled anneal may occur over a temperature interval from 650-875° C. or a sub-interval thereof. The controlled anneals permit independent control over CTE slope and Tzc of silica-titania glasses. The independent control provides CTE slope and Tzc values for silica-titania glasses of fixed composition over ranges heretofore possible only through variations in composition.