May 3 2005
Degussa AG has developed AEROSIL® EG50 - a new nanoscale fumed silica of high purity for the manufacture of specialty glass. Because of its extremely low content of trace-elements, it is suitable for producing the kind of high-purity silica glass required in industries such as optics, semiconductor or information technology.
AEROSIL® EG50 can be processed into different materials using conventional industrial processes. Colloidal sol-gel processes are proving particularly effective, as they allow highly loaded dispersions based on AEROSIL® EG50 to be manufactured into high-purity, molded glass bodies of virtually any shape. In addition to its purity, other advantages of AEROSIL® EG50 include a minor thickening effect and overall excellent dispersing behavior in aqueous media. These properties make AEROSIL® EG50 attractive as a raw material or as an additive for a multitude of potential applications. Promising areas of application include optical fibers with extremely low signal loss, complex optical components like lenses with special shape and outstanding UV transparency, lithographic photomasks and molded specialty silica glass bodies for use in the semiconductor industry.
AEROSIL® EG50 can also be used in the production of silica glass coatings. Silica glass coatings with thicknesses in the micrometer-range are used in surface finishing applications because of their resistance to chemicals, scratches, and corrosion. With AEROSIL® EG50, these coatings can be produced directly from the colloidal sol. For example, in a special process known as "dip coating", different substrates can be coated by dipping them into highly loaded dispersions. This produces coatings that not only have the superior properties of silica glass but are remarkably durable as well, measuring several micrometers in thickness. They can be used on glass, natural stone, plant construction and in other applications.
Degussa also offers AEROSIL® fumed silica in highly loaded dispersions, customized to the needs of the specialty glass industry. Degussa's Italian subsidiary, Novara Technology S.r.l. brought the sol-gel process to technical maturity and developed the expertise to manufacture glass bodies with complex shapes and textures. This technology can be acquired from Degussa by signing the appropriate license agreements. At Degussa, customers have a clear advantage - to be able to obtain raw materials, processing expertise, and process technology from a single source.
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