Sunshine On Silica

A snapshot of the market for fused silica is given here. Solar cell demand lights up the fused silica crucible market, while the electronics, investment casting and refractory markets remain buoyant. This article focuses on natural silica sand which undergoes fusion, normally in a carbon electrode furnace, and is termed "fused silica". Not to be confused with "fused quartz" which is formed from the fusion of exceptionally pure natural quartz, silica sand or synthetic silica, and used in heating, lighting, optical instruments, semiconductors and fibres.