In today's era of rapid technological development, innovation in the field of materials science is constantly advancing. Quartz fiber, as an advanced material with unique properties, is gradually becoming a pioneer in leading the future material revolution. It has demonstrated enormous potential for applications in numerous fields due to its outstanding physical and chemical properties, bringing new opportunities and challenges to the development of various industries.

Basic characteristics of quartz fiber

Quartz fiber is an inorganic fiber made of high-purity silicon dioxide (SiO ₂), with a silicon dioxide content typically above 99.9%. This high-purity component endows quartz fibers with many excellent properties.

Firstly, quartz fiber has extremely high heat resistance. It can be used for a long time in a high temperature environment of 1050 ℃, and the instantaneous use temperature can even reach 1700 ℃. This excellent heat resistance makes quartz fiber irreplaceable in high-temperature fields such as aerospace and metallurgy. For example, in the hot end components of aircraft engines, quartz fiber reinforced composite materials can withstand the erosion of high-temperature gas, ensuring the stable operation of the engine.

Secondly, quartz fibers have excellent chemical stability. It hardly reacts with any acid (except hydrofluoric acid) or alkali, and has good corrosion resistance. In industries such as chemical and electronics, quartz fiber can be used to manufacture corrosion-resistant pipelines, containers, and other equipment, extending the service life of the equipment.

In addition, quartz fibers also have the characteristics of low dielectric constant and low loss tangent. This makes it of significant application value in the field of high-frequency communication. In the antenna cover of 5G communication base stations, the use of quartz fiber reinforced composite materials can reduce signal attenuation and improve communication quality.

Preparation process of quartz fiber

At present, there are two main methods for preparing quartz fibers: crucible filament method and vapor deposition method.

The crucible filament method is a traditional preparation method. It puts high-purity quartz raw materials into a platinum crucible for heating and melting, and then pulls out fibers through a leak plate at the bottom of the crucible. The advantages of this method are mature technology, high production efficiency, and the ability to produce continuous long fibers. However, the crucible filament method requires high purity and uniformity of the raw materials, and impurities are easily introduced during the preparation process, which affects the performance of the fibers.

The vapor deposition method is a novel preparation technique. It decomposes and deposits gaseous silicon sources on the substrate at high temperatures through chemical vapor deposition, forming quartz fibers. The vapor deposition method can prepare quartz fibers with high purity and excellent performance, and can precisely control the diameter and structure of the fibers. However, this method requires large equipment investment and low production efficiency, and is currently mainly used to prepare high-performance special quartz fibers.

Application of Quartz Fiber in Aerospace Field

The aerospace industry has extremely high requirements for material performance, and quartz fiber has been widely used in this field due to its excellent properties.

In the structural components of aircraft, quartz fiber reinforced composite materials can reduce structural weight, improve fuel efficiency and flight performance of aircraft. For example, the US F-22 fighter jet uses a large amount of quartz fiber-reinforced composite materials, which reduces the weight of the fuselage by more than 20%, while improving the aircraft's stealth performance and maneuverability.

In the thermal protection system of spacecraft, quartz fiber insulation material can effectively block the invasion of high-temperature airflow and protect the safety of equipment and personnel inside the spacecraft. For example, the return capsule of China's Shenzhou spacecraft uses quartz fiber insulation tiles, which can withstand temperatures of thousands of degrees when returning to the atmosphere, ensuring the safe return of the spacecraft.

In addition, quartz fiber can also be used to manufacture hot end components such as blades and combustion chambers for aerospace engines. Its high heat resistance and strength ensure stable operation of the engine in harsh environments with high temperature and pressure.

The application of quartz fiber in the field of electronic information

With the rapid development of electronic information technology, the demand for high-performance electronic materials is increasing day by day. Quartz fiber has broad application prospects in the field of electronic information.

In printed circuit boards (PCBs), quartz fiber-reinforced composite materials can improve the dimensional stability and heat resistance of the PCB, reducing its deformation and warping in high-temperature environments. Meanwhile, the low dielectric constant and low loss tangent of quartz fibers can reduce signal transmission losses and improve the high-frequency performance of circuit boards. For example, in the motherboard of high-speed computers, using quartz fiber reinforced composite materials can improve the running speed and stability of the computer.

In the field of optical communication, quartz fiber is the main material for manufacturing optical fibers. Fiber optic has the advantages of large transmission capacity, low transmission loss, and strong anti-interference ability, and is a core component of modern communication networks. With the development of technologies such as 5G communication and the Internet of Things, the demand for optical fiber will continue to grow.

In addition, quartz fiber can also be used to manufacture electronic components such as electronic packaging materials and sensors. Its excellent performance can improve the reliability and stability of electronic components.

The development trend and challenges of quartz fiber

With the continuous advancement of technology, the development prospects of quartz fiber are very broad. In the future, quartz fibers will develop towards high performance, multifunctionality, and low cost.

In terms of high performance, researchers will continuously improve the strength, modulus, heat resistance and other performance indicators of quartz fibers to meet the needs of high-end fields such as aerospace and national defense. For example, by improving the preparation process and adding nano reinforcement phases, quartz fibers with higher strength and better toughness can be prepared.

In terms of multifunctionality, quartz fibers will be compounded with other materials to give them more functionality. For example, by combining quartz fibers with conductive materials, quartz fiber composite materials with conductive properties can be prepared, which can be used to manufacture electromagnetic shielding materials, sensors, etc.

In terms of low cost, researchers will explore more efficient and environmentally friendly preparation processes to reduce the production cost of quartz fibers. For example, adopting new raw materials and equipment to improve production efficiency and reduce energy consumption.

However, the development of quartz fibers also faces some challenges. For example, the preparation process of quartz fiber is complex, and impurities are easily introduced during the production process, which affects the performance of the fiber. In addition, the relatively high price of quartz fiber limits its widespread application in some fields. Therefore, in the future, it is necessary to strengthen the research on the preparation process of quartz fibers, improve the quality and performance of fibers, reduce production costs, and promote the large-scale application of quartz fibers.

In short, quartz fiber, as an advanced material with unique properties, is gradually becoming a pioneer in leading the future material revolution. Its widespread application in aerospace, electronic information and other fields has brought new opportunities and challenges to the development of various industries. With the continuous advancement of technology, the performance of quartz fibers will continue to improve and their application fields will continue to expand. We believe that in the near future, quartz fibers will play an important role in more fields.