石英ガラスの火加工の研究

Abstract

Quartz glass is a special glass material known as "King of Glass". The silicon purity of the quartz glass is very high, therefore it is excellent in heat resistance, chemical resistance and optical transparency as compared to other glasses, such as borosilicate glass. At present, it is used in the production field of leading-edge. Now researchers are carried out to develop it as key components of special manufacturing equipment, scientific instruments and analysis equipment that require high-precision, high purity, the high light transmittance. However, due to its high heat resistance, it is difficult to process into various shapes. As a result, manufactured Quartz glass products, generally, might be different even in one batch. To respond to such products for precision instruments, it is preferable to select the heat molding process by flame called "fire-process" in many cases. "fire-process" is the process of forming a softening point of heated quartz glass material by a mixed combustion flame of hydrogen and oxygen. Therefore, a technique for forming a glass material softened by heating is required, and now it is done by human hand processing of engineers. Skilled human technique of long time experience is required in order to produce high precision and some efficient products. Therefore, analysis of the work of expert engineers with high level of skill is needed to increase the processing technology of the engineers less skilled and take advantage in the manufacture of high-precision products.