Quartz wool is made primarily from SiO2 and natural quartz crystals with a purity typically ssshhh99.9%, and contains no binders. Its products are amorphous, continuous, clump-like white fibers; the irregularity in fiber length, shape, and arrangement gives it a curly appearance.

Material properties

1. High temperature resistance: It can maintain strength and dimensional stability for a long time at 1000℃, and has excellent thermal shock resistance.

2. Chemical stability: It is resistant to acid and alkali corrosion and is suitable for strong chemical environments.

3. Physical properties: It has low density (2.2 g/cm³) and combines light transmission and electrical insulation.

The fiber diameter of quartz wool is relatively wide, about 0.7~10 μm. According to the thickness, it can usually be divided into coarse (12-15 μm), fine (7-9 μm) and ultrafine (about 3 μm) categories. Its monofilament has high mechanical properties, with a tensile strength of about 7 GPa and a tensile modulus of about 70 GPa.

Preparation method

Quartz wool is made primarily from high-purity silicon dioxide (SiO2, typically ssshhh99.9%) and natural quartz crystals, without any binders. The product consists of amorphous, continuous, clump-like white fibers; the irregularity in fiber length, shape, and arrangement gives it a curly appearance.

Main Processes

The manufacturing methods of quartz wool include: melting quartz rods or tubes with an oxyhydrogen flame and drawing them into fibers, then blowing them through an oxyhydrogen flame blowpipe to produce quartz wool with a diameter of 0.7–1 μm; melting quartz in a flame and then forming short fibers and felts using a high-speed gas flow; and passing quartz filaments or rods through an oxyhydrogen flame or gas flame at a constant speed to soften them, then drawing them into long filaments at high speed.

Technological Development

The manufacturing technology for quartz wool emphasizes the absence of volatile binders to ensure fiber continuity and structural stability. Future applications may expand to more high-temperature scenarios.

Application Areas

1. Laboratory Use: As a packing material for elemental analysis reaction tubes, compatible with instruments such as Thermo Finnigan and Elementar; also used in chromatography accessories.

2. Industrial and Military Use: Used as ablation-resistant materials, microwave-transparent materials, high-temperature insulation materials, and foil-coated reinforcement materials.

3. Environmental Protection: Used in building sound insulation, fireproofing materials, and high-temperature pipeline insulation.

Quartz wool is typically stored at room temperature or in a sealed container.