vitreous silica

Thân thiện

A scientist examines a sample of vitreous silica under bright light.

Definition

Noun: * A type of glass that is transparent and colorless, composed almost entirely of silicon dioxide (silica). It is known for its high purity, exceptional resistance to heat and chemicals, and low thermal expansion.

Usage

• Vitreous silica is the primary material used in laboratory equipment like crucibles and tubes due to its inertness.
• The optical clarity of vitreous silica makes it ideal for specialized lenses and windows.
• This form of silica is distinguished by its non-crystalline, glassy structure.

Examples

• The fiber optic cable was made from high-purity vitreous silica.
• Vitreous silica can withstand temperatures that would cause ordinary glass to melt.
• A tube of vitreous silica was used in the experiment to contain the corrosive acid.

Advanced Usage

• Fused quartz and fused silica are common synonyms for vitreous silica, though technical contexts may distinguish between types based on the raw material and manufacturing process.
• In materials science, the properties of vitreous silica are often contrasted with those of crystalline silica forms like quartz.

Variants and Related Words

• Fused quartz (n): A type of vitreous silica made by melting naturally occurring quartz crystals.
• Fused silica (n): A type of vitreous silica synthesized from silicon compounds, often of even higher purity.
• Silica glass (n): A general term synonymous with vitreous silica.

Synonyms

• Fused quartz
• Fused silica
• Quartz glass
• Silica glass

Related Terms

• Silicon dioxide (SiO₂) (n): The chemical compound that is the primary component of vitreous silica.
• Amorphous solid (n): A solid, like glass, that lacks a long-range ordered crystalline structure. Vitreous silica is a key example.

Học thuật

Noun

1. colorless glass made of almost pure silica

Từ đồng nghĩa

• quartz glass
• quartz
• lechatelierite
• crystal