Suprasil
Suprasil is a synthetic fused silica made by flame hydrolysis, supplied in grades S1-2, S300, S3001 and S311, with very high UV transmission and low OH and metallic content.
Reference datasheet — Suprasil is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the S1-2 condition
Suprasil tempers and conditions
Suprasil is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard. S1-2 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
S1-2Default Suprasil 1/2 | Standard choice for DUV/UV optics, spectrophotometer cells and lenses up to ~2.2 µm; ~1000 ppm OH gives best UV transmission but a strong 2.73 µm absorption band. | 50 | 0 | 850 HV | 1 W/m·K | |
Suprasil 300 | Pick when transmission through the 2.7 µm OH band out to ~3.5 µm is required, or when a higher-viscosity, higher-temperature-capable synthetic silica is needed. | 50 | 0 | 870 HV | 1 W/m·K | |
Suprasil 3001/3002 | For large interferometer, laser and lithography optics needing Δn ≤ 1×10⁻⁶ in three directions plus low OH content. | 50 | 0 | 870 HV | 1 W/m·K | |
Suprasil 311/312 | Use for large UV/excimer optics where high-OH DUV transmission and large-aperture index homogeneity must be combined. | 50 | 0 | 850 HV | 1 W/m·K |
What is Suprasil?
Suprasil is a synthetic fused silica made by flame hydrolysis, supplied in grades S1-2, S300, S3001 and S311, with very high UV transmission and low OH and metallic content. It is specified for UV/DUV lens elements, laser windows and lithography optics where absorption, inclusions and index homogeneity are controlled, and is available as boules, blanks, plates and rods. Maximum service temperature is 900 °C, the material is fully brittle at room temperature, and blank cost is high; graded fused quartz such as JGS1 covers less demanding UV work. Suprasil has a density of 2.2 g/cm³ (0.0795 lb/in³), lighter than 91% of glass grades. It melts at 1,713°C (3,115 °F). Suprasil has a tensile strength of 50 MPa (7.25 ksi), stronger than 59% of glass grades. Elongation at break is 0% and the elastic modulus is 72.5 GPa (10.5 Msi).
What is Suprasil used for?
- UV/DUV lens elements
- Semiconductor lithography optics
- Laser windows
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 96/100, better than 98% of glass grades
- Lightweight — 2.2 g/cm³ (0.0795 lb/in³), better than 91% of glass grades
- High service temperature — 900°C (1,652 °F), better than 86% of glass grades
Suprasil properties
Typical room-temperature values for Suprasil-S1-2; bars are the position among glass grades.
Physical5
Suprasil has a density of 2.2 g/cm³ (0.0795 lb/in³), lighter than 91% of glass grades. It melts at 1,713°C (3,115 °F).
Mechanical13
Suprasil has a tensile strength of 50 MPa (7.25 ksi), stronger than 59% of glass grades. Elongation at break is 0% and the elastic modulus is 72.5 GPa (10.5 Msi).
Thermal5
Suprasil is rated for continuous service to 900°C (1,652 °F). It conducts heat at 1.4 W/m·K (0.797 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 54% of glass grades. Thermal expansion is 0.52 µm/m·K (0.289 µin/in·°F).
Electrical5
Suprasil is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 30 kV/mm (762 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹⁶ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is excellent (96/100), better than 98% of glass grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Suprasil takes about 180 MJ of energy and emits 12 kg of CO₂ — more than 69% of glass grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability2
Suprasil's machinability is not recommended (10/100, worse than 80% of glass grades).
Common Calculations4
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the glass family
Yield strength against density for every glass grade FabDigit runs. Suprasil is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Suprasil
Is Suprasil easy to machine?
Diamond core drilling, grinding and lapping only; no conventional cutting — keep coolant flowing and avoid edge chipping, then acid-etch or fine-grind to remove subsurface damage.
Can Suprasil be welded?
Joined by oxy-hydrogen flame working or CO₂-laser fusion at >1700 °C; high-OH grades bubble more easily, and any handling contamination causes devitrification.
Can Suprasil be formed, bent or molded?
Shaped hot by flame/electric-furnace drawing, sagging or fusing above the ~1600 °C softening point; always follow with a slow anneal near 1100 °C to remove stress birefringence.
Suprasil chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| OH≈1000 ppm in Suprasil 1/2 and 311/312; <1 ppm in Suprasil 300/3001 | 0 – 0.13 | 0.1 |
| Clresidual from precursor, mainly in low-OH grades | 0 – 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Al<50 ppb typical | ≤ 2×10⁻⁵ | 5×10⁻⁶ |
| Naalkali total in ppb range | ≤ 2×10⁻⁵ | 5×10⁻⁶ |
| Fe<20 ppb typical | ≤ 2×10⁻⁵ | 2×10⁻⁶ |
| SiO2synthetic, flame-hydrolysis of SiCl4 | ≥ 99.99 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on Suprasil?
Polishes to <0.5 nm RMS with cerium oxide or colloidal silica; typically finished with AR/DUV coatings, and HF etching is used for cleaning and stress-free surface removal.
How much does Suprasil cost?
Suprasil is a high-cost glass ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Suprasil — frequently asked
What is Suprasil used for?
Suprasil is typically used for UV/DUV lens elements, semiconductor lithography optics and laser windows. In short: high UV transmission silica; low-OH synthetic quartz; lithography-grade purity.
What is the tensile strength of Suprasil?
Suprasil has a typical tensile strength of 50 MPa (7.25 ksi) — stronger than 59% of glass grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is Suprasil easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (10/100, worse than 80% of glass grades). Diamond core drilling, grinding and lapping only; no conventional cutting — keep coolant flowing and avoid edge chipping, then acid-etch or fine-grind to remove subsurface damage.
Can Suprasil be welded?
Joined by oxy-hydrogen flame working or CO₂-laser fusion at >1700 °C; high-OH grades bubble more easily, and any handling contamination causes devitrification.
What surface finishes work on Suprasil?
Polishes to <0.5 nm RMS with cerium oxide or colloidal silica; typically finished with AR/DUV coatings, and HF etching is used for cleaning and stress-free surface removal.
Can Suprasil be formed, bent or molded?
Shaped hot by flame/electric-furnace drawing, sagging or fusing above the ~1600 °C softening point; always follow with a slow anneal near 1100 °C to remove stress birefringence.
What is the maximum service temperature of Suprasil?
Suprasil is rated for continuous use to about 900°C (1,652 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does Suprasil cost?
Suprasil is a high-cost glass ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- Quartz Glass for Optics — Data and Properties (Suprasil / Infrasil / Homosil) — Heraeus Conamic (2023)
- HPFS Fused Silica Standard Grade Optical Materials Product Information — Corning (2022)
- ASM Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 4: Ceramics and Glasses — ASM International (1991)
- GB/T 15594 / JGS1 synthetic fused silica classification — SAC (2017)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.