METHOD FOR PRODUCING A COMPONENT OF RARE EARTH METAL-DOPED QUARTZ GLASS

摘要

A method for producing a component with portions of a rare earth metal-doped quartz glass, an intermediate product containing voids and consisting of a SiO₂ raw material doped with rare earth metal is introduced into a sinter mold the interior of which is bordered by a carbonaceous mold wall, and is melted therein into the component by gas pressure sintering at a maximum temperature above 1500° C. A shield is arranged between the mold wall and the intermediate product. In order to indicate a modified gas pressure sintering method that ensures the production of rare earth metal-doped quartz glass with reproducible properties, a bulk material of amorphous SiO₂ particles with a layer thickness of at least 2 mm is used as the shield, the softening temperature thereof being at least 20° C. higher than the softening temperature of the doped SiO₂ raw material, and the bulk material being gas-permeable at the beginning of the melting of the intermediate product, and the bulk material sintering during melting into an outer layer that is gas-tight to a pressure gas.