Fused quartz plates and substrates are fabricated from raw quartz glass materials either from cored rods, ingots, sheets or blocks.

Fused quartz has very good transmission at near ultraviolet and visible wavelengths ranging from 260nm to above 2000nm. There are several grades available made by many manufacturers from around the world and dependent on visual qualities required and transmission, determines the most suitable grade.

Fused Quartz plates and substrates can be processed to ultra thin thickness’ and is custom processed to many forms, see custom processing. Stock fused quartz plates and substrates are also fabricated to standard stock sizes. For material data see materials page. Fused quartz substrates are widely used in the laboratory for experiments and take the form of microscope slides and cover slips, plates, discs and substrates.

In addition to optically machined fused quartz plates and substrates. There is a commercial industrial grade of standard polished quartz plate material made in standard thickness’ and dimensions. These are made in larger sizes up to 500mm2 and can be machined as ground or to transparent finishes. These plates are used for non optical use such as spacers, insulators, laboratory experiments, viewing windows and observation furnace windows.