Synthetic silica glass with uniform fictive temperature

摘要

A method of making a silica glass having a uniform fictive temperature. The glass article is heated at a target fictive temperature, or heated or cooled at a rate that is less than the rate of change of the fictive temperature, for a time that is sufficient to allow the fictive temperature of the glass to come within 3° C. of the target fictive temperature. The silica glass is then cooled from the target fictive temperature to a temperature below the strain point of the glass at a cooling rate that is greater than the relaxation rate of the glass at the target fictive temperature. The silica glass has a fictive temperature that varies by less than 3° C. after the annealing step. A silica glass made by the method is also described.