Laboratory quartz glass

Yes. FGQuartz manufactures replacement ICP torch assemblies and individual torch tube components compatible with the major ICP instrument platforms including Perkin-Elmer Optima and NexION series, Agilent 5000 and 7000 series, Thermo Scientific iCAP and iCap-Q series, Horiba Ultima Expert, and Spectro Arcos. Mini-torch assemblies for low-flow argon operation and demountable torch systems for difficult matrix applications are also available. For ICP models not listed, the outer tube dimensions and injector configuration can be specified by the customer and FGQuartz will fabricate a compatible replacement.

Yes. FGQuartz accepts formal drawings in DXF, STEP, or IGES format and also produces custom labware from dimensioned sketches, photographs of sample vessels, or verbal descriptions. Non-standard crucible volumes, digestion vessels with specific neck and opening geometries, reaction tubes matched to particular furnace internal diameters, and custom flow cells with defined path lengths are all produced at the Lianyungang facility. The engineering team prepares a manufacturing drawing for customer approval before production begins. Prototype quantities from a single piece are accepted, and repeat orders follow the same programme without additional qualification lead time.

For routine cleaning, a soak in hot dilute nitric acid (10–20% HNO₃) followed by thorough rinsing with high-purity deionised water is the standard protocol for trace element laboratories, effectively removing surface-adsorbed metals. Ultrasonic cleaning in dilute acid is effective for tube interiors and other hard-to-reach surfaces. For carbonaceous deposits from ashing, briefly heating the empty crucible to 900–1000 °C burns off residual carbon. Avoid hydrofluoric acid, strongly alkaline detergents, and abrasive scouring materials. Never use HF or fluoride-containing cleaners — they will etch the quartz surface irreversibly. Mechanical abrasion should also be avoided, as scratches create stress concentration points that weaken the vessel for future thermal cycling.

No. Hydrofluoric acid attacks fused silica by dissolving the SiO₂ network, etching the surface and eventually degrading or destroying the vessel. Quartz laboratory equipment must not be used with HF or fluoride-based cleaning agents. For digestion procedures requiring HF — silicate mineral dissolution, for example — PTFE vessels are the correct choice. For all other common laboratory acids including hydrochloric, sulphuric, nitric, perchloric, and aqua regia, quartz glass offers excellent chemical resistance even at elevated temperatures and high concentrations.

FGQuartz manufactures quartz crucibles in low-form and tall-form styles with and without lids; combustion and evaporation boats; evaporation dishes and watch glasses; reaction tubes and combustion tubes; beakers, Erlenmeyer flasks, and round-bottom flasks; distillation heads, condensers, and sub-boiling acid stills; ICP plasma torch assemblies compatible with major instrument platforms; tube furnace liners in clear and opaque grades; quartz ampoules for crystal growth and sealed-tube synthesis; and fully custom laboratory vessels fabricated to customer drawings or specifications. Prototype quantities from a single piece are accepted on custom items.

Quartz glass withstands continuous service temperatures up to 1200 °C and brief excursions to 1300 °C, far beyond the 500 °C working limit of borosilicate glass. Its near-zero thermal expansion also means it resists thermal shock — a quartz crucible can be transferred directly from a muffle furnace to a cool bench surface without cracking, which borosilicate cannot tolerate. For any laboratory procedure involving temperatures above 500 °C, or requiring rapid heating and quenching cycles, quartz glass is the only practical glass-based choice. Below 500 °C, borosilicate is often adequate and less expensive; the crossover point where upgrading to quartz becomes necessary depends on the specific procedure and temperature profile.