Manufacturing Processes And Production Techniques of Sapphire Glass
- Selection and treatment of basematerials
- Purification of raw materials:
The initial stage in the production of high-quality sapphire glass is the extraction of high-purity alumina from the ore. The impurities in raw materials can influence the properties of the final products, which is why the purification process is of paramount importance.
- Processing and pretreatment of raw materials:
Before its utilization, purified alumina must undergo a series of pretreatment steps, including crushing, mixing and heating, which serves to ensure the uniformity and purity of the material. These processing steps facilitate the formation of a uniform crystal structure in subsequent manufacturing processes.
- Production techniques
- Kyropoulosmethod:
This is a common method of manufacturing sapphire glass, whereby the molten alumina liquid is cooled, allowing it to crystallize and form a large-size single crystal sapphire. This method is capable of producing high-quality sapphire glass, but the process is time-consuming and high-cost.
- Cutting and grinding techniques:
One of the most crucial stages in the manufacturing of sapphire glass is the machining of large sapphire crystals into desired shapes and sizes. Given the exceptionally high hardness of sapphire glass, the use of diamond tools for cutting and grinding is typically indispensable. These processes necessitate a high degree of precision control in order to ensure the size and surface quality of the final products.
- Chemical vapor deposition (CVD):
This method employs the deposition of gaseous chemicals on the substrate to form a sapphire film, which is suitable for the manufacture of high-precision optical components and electronic devices. The CVD method enables the precise control of the film’s thickness and composition, making it a crucial technology for the production of high-performance sapphire glass.
- Processing and forming techniques
- Cutting, grinding and polishing:
In order to achieve the required size and surface quality, it is necessary to perform precise cutting, grinding and polishing on sapphire glass. These processes often use diamond tools to cope with the high hardness of sapphire glass.
- Chemical strengthening and heat treatment:
Chemical strengthening and heat treatment can be employed to enhance the mechanical strength and durability of sapphire glass. These processes involve ion exchange and heat treatment at high temperatures to improve the internal structure of the materials.
