Molten SiO2 is often used, while sapphire is actually more suitable in certain situations. In many cases, the use of molten SiO2 is purely for cost considerations. Although the cost of melting SiO2 is lower than sapphire, material failures in certain critical systems may result in expensive repairs, shutdowns, and other unforeseen issues. Sapphire high-strength glass is a chemically stable photoelectric material, which is scratch resistant and high pressure resistant. Its performance is better than that of glass, fused silica, alumina, etc. In some cases, it can be used to solve complex engineering design problems.

1、 Using sapphire instead of molten SiO2 has the following advantages

1. Sapphire has a Knoop hardness of 2200 and molten SiO2 has a Knoop hardness of 460;

2. The strength of sapphire is 4 million pascals, while the strength of molten SiO2 is 600000 pascals;

3. The transmission characteristics of sapphire in the mid wave infrared region are superior to those of molten SiO2;

4. Sapphire high-strength glass shows zero degradation at high temperatures, while molten SiO2 degrades and recrystallizes.

2、 Characteristics of Sapphire

1. High elastic modulus and high tensile strength make it wear-resistant and impact resistant.

2. High dielectric constant, excellent electrical insulator.

3. Good thermal stability, no loss of mechanical and optical properties from low temperature refrigeration to high temperature of 2000 ℃.

4. Thermal conductivity is higher than other optical materials and most dielectrics.

5. It will not cause surface damage or recrystallization due to thermal cycling.

6. There will be no sagging or collapse phenomenon under high temperature.

7. High corrosion resistance.

8. Good radiation resistance.

9. It has good optical transmission characteristics from ultraviolet to mid infrared.

The overall advantages of sapphire components in terms of strength, durability, reliability, and broad spectrum far exceed the price difference of the material. For smaller parts, the difference in raw material prices between sapphire and fused silica is minimal and does not become a factor until large geometric shapes are involved. Sapphire high-strength glass can significantly extend the system life in harsh environments, thereby significantly reducing costs associated with component replacement and system maintenance.