High-Purity Fused Silica UV Optics for Laboratory Ultraviolet Spectrum Testing
US laboratory instrument manufacturers rely on high-purity, low-fluorescence fused silica optical components to maintain accurate UV-Vis transmission and reliable deep-UV detection. Felix Glass supplies custom UV windows, flow cells, lenses, prisms, viewports and reference flats for laboratory spectrometers, environmental testing instruments and OEM research equipment. Each component is machined from JGS-grade fused silica with controlled OH content, optional UV anti-reflection coatings and cleanroom packaging for direct integration into US laboratory production lines.
- 185–2500 nm transmission
- Low-fluorescence JGS-1 / JGS-2
- ISO Class 7 cleanroom finishing
Custom fused silica UV optics for laboratory test instruments
Why US Laboratory Instrument Manufacturers Choose Felix Glass Fused Silica UV Optics
Three reasons North American spectrometer, environmental analyzer and research-instrument OEMs standardize on Felix Glass for their UV-grade fused silica optical components.
US-Focused Manufacturing
Documentation, packaging and shipping workflows are designed for US laboratory procurement teams. COA, material traceability sheets and customs-ready export paperwork are included with every batch delivered to instrument factories in the USA and Canada.
Material Traceability
Every fused silica blank is sourced from named JGS-1 or JGS-2 suppliers with full batch records. OH content, bubble class, striae grade and refractive index homogeneity are documented in the certificate for each shipment.
OEM Process Integration
Engineering team supports optical designers from first sample to serial production. Sample lead time is 5–7 working days; bulk lead time is 12–18 working days. Standard packaging protects every component through ocean and air freight to US destinations.
Core Manufacturing Capabilities for Fused Silica UV Optical Components
Six production capabilities that allow Felix Glass to deliver fused silica UV optical components ready for direct integration into laboratory spectrometer and analyzer production lines.
JGS-Grade Fused Silica Stock
JGS-1 (excimer / deep-UV), JGS-2 (standard UV-Vis) and JGS-3 (near-IR) grades with documented OH content and striae grade.
UV Anti-Reflection Coating Lab
Single-layer MgF2, broadband UV AR and custom wavelength-centered coatings covering 200–400 nm for laboratory UV optics.
Precision CNC Machining
Tolerance up to ±0.001 mm on outer dimensions, surface flatness down to λ/10 and surface roughness Ra 0.005 μm.
ISO Class 7 Cleanroom Finishing
Final cleaning, inspection and packaging in an ISO Class 7 cleanroom to control particulate contamination on optical surfaces.
OEM Batch Packaging
Anti-static bags, foam inserts and labeled cartons sized for direct placement into US instrument assembly lines.
US Export Compliance
RoHS, REACH and conflict-mineral documentation. Export paperwork prepared for laboratory equipment customers in the USA and Canada.
Why Fused Silica Is the Reference Material for UV Spectroscopy Optics
Fused silica combines a wide UV transmission range, low fluorescence and high chemical stability, which makes it the specified substrate for UV-Vis spectrometers, fluorescence analyzers and deep-UV measurement instruments.
UV Transmission Profile
Internal transmittance exceeds 80% at 185 nm and 90% at 200 nm for JGS-1 grade. The transmission window extends to 2500 nm, which supports combined UV-Vis-NIR laboratory setups without changing optical substrates.
Low Fluorescence Background
Synthetic fused silica shows fluorescence background more than 100× lower than standard borosilicate glass, which is required for accurate fluorescence spectroscopy and low-level UV trace analysis.
Thermal and Chemical Stability
Operating range -40°C to +200°C, low thermal expansion (5.5 × 10⁻⁷/K) and resistance to acids, solvents and laboratory cleaning agents. Refractive index homogeneity Δn ≤ 5 × 10⁻⁶ supports precision optical paths.
Main Fused Silica UV Optical Parts for Laboratory Testing Equipment
Six standard fused silica UV optical component families integrated into laboratory spectrometers, environmental analyzers and OEM research instruments in the North American market.
UV Test Flow Cell
Custom-machined fused silica flow cell with path length from 0.1 mm to 100 mm, threaded or compression fittings per instrument CAD.
Fused Silica UV Window
Polished UV window with optional MgF2 or broadband UV AR coating for sample chambers, detector windows and analyzer flow paths.
Deep UV Focusing Lens
Plano-convex and biconvex fused silica lenses for collimating and focusing 185–400 nm radiation, with custom UV AR coating.
UV Cuvette Holder Prism
Right-angle and dove fused silica prisms used in cuvette holders and beam-steering assemblies of UV-Vis analyzers.
UV Calibration Optical Flat
λ/10 and λ/20 fused silica reference flats for UV wavelength calibration, optical bench alignment and interferometric testing.
Custom Fused Silica Blanks
Cut-to-size fused silica substrate blanks supplied to optical integrators for downstream polishing, edging and UV coating.
Precision Optical Specifications of Felix Glass Fused Silica UV Components
Standard optical and dimensional specifications applied across our UV product line. Custom specifications are supported on request for OEM laboratory equipment projects.
Material Grade
JGS-1 (synthetic fused silica, OH < 1 ppm) and JGS-2 (standard UV grade) selected by wavelength range.
Transmission Range
185 nm – 2500 nm (JGS-1), 200 nm – 2500 nm (JGS-2). Internal transmittance > 90% across 250–2000 nm at 10 mm thickness.
Surface Flatness
λ/10 standard, λ/20 optional for reference flats and interferometric testing components.
Surface Quality
Surface roughness Ra 0.005 μm. Scratch-dig 10-5 per MIL-PRF-13830B. Optional 5-3 for high-precision laboratory optics.
UV AR Coating
Single-layer MgF2 (200 nm or 250 nm centered) and broadband UV AR (200–400 nm). Custom wavelength centering on request.
Dimensional Tolerance
±0.001 mm via CNC machining on outer diameter, thickness and rectangular dimensions. Path length ±0.01 mm on flow cells.
Operating Temperature
-40°C to +200°C continuous. Thermal expansion 5.5 × 10⁻⁷/K maintains optical alignment under laboratory thermal cycling.
Cleanroom
Final cleaning, inspection and packaging in ISO Class 7 cleanroom. Component is sealed in anti-static bag at exit.
Fused Silica UV Optics Across Laboratory Application Scenarios
Fused silica UV optical components from Felix Glass are integrated into the following categories of laboratory testing and measurement instruments across the North American market.
UV-Vis Spectrophotometers
Bench-top and portable UV-Vis spectrophotometers used in pharmaceutical QA, food analysis and academic research laboratories.
Environmental Water Quality Testing
Online and laboratory water analyzers measuring COD, BOD, nitrate and TOC through UV absorption at 254 nm and other wavelengths.
Pharmaceutical UV Analysis
Dissolution testers, content uniformity analyzers and stability chambers that rely on UV-Vis measurement through fused silica flow cells.
Semiconductor Photolithography Inspection
Wafer inspection microscopes and mask metrology tools operating at 193 nm and 248 nm excimer wavelengths.
Fluorescence Microscopy and Life Science
Epifluorescence and confocal microscopes using UV excitation at 365 nm, 405 nm and other near-UV wavelengths.
UV Sterilization and Curing Test Benches
UV-C 254 nm sterilization validation equipment, UV LED curing test benches and 222 nm far-UV safety measurement instruments.
Target Buyer Roles and Engineering Pain Points Solved
Felix Glass fused silica UV optical components are designed around the real procurement and engineering decisions made by laboratory instrument manufacturers and research procurement teams in the USA and Canada.
Target Buyer Roles
- Lab Optical Engineer designing UV-Vis beam paths
- University Research Procurement Manager
- Environmental Test Equipment Designer
Common Pain Points
- Ordinary borosilicate glass shows high fluorescence, raising background noise in low-concentration UV trace analysis.
- Standard optical materials absorb below 300 nm, causing severe transmission loss in deep-UV measurement.
- Off-the-shelf UV cells cannot match custom analyzer port geometry, forcing mechanical redesign.
- Long sample lead times delay laboratory instrument development and validation cycles.
Our Solutions
Custom UV Anti-Reflection Coating and OEM Integration Workflow
A documented five-step workflow that takes a UV optical component from initial engineering drawing to OEM-ready batch delivery, used by Felix Glass for every US laboratory instrument project.
Optical Design Review
Felix Glass optical engineers review your instrument CAD, wavelength range, port geometry and tolerance stack-up to define a manufacturable fused silica UV component.
Material Grade Selection
Material grade is selected by working wavelength: JGS-1 for 185–250 nm, JGS-2 for 250–400 nm, JGS-3 for visible and near-IR.
Precision CNC Machining
Outer dimensions, internal flow channels and threaded ports are machined on multi-axis CNC centers to ±0.001 mm tolerance.
UV Anti-Reflection Coating
Single-layer MgF2 or broadband UV AR coating is deposited in a vacuum coating chamber and verified with spectrophotometer data per batch.
Cleanroom QA and Shipment
Final cleaning, surface inspection and packaging in an ISO Class 7 cleanroom. COA, transmittance curve and dimensional report included.
Technical Parameter Overview — Fused Silica UV Optical Components
Standard material, optical and process specifications applied across Felix Glass fused silica UV optical components. Custom parameters are supported on request.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fused Silica UV Optics
Engineering and procurement questions North American laboratory instrument manufacturers most often ask about Felix Glass fused silica UV optical components.
Q1. Why is fused silica preferred over BK7 for UV spectroscopy?
Fused silica extends transmittance into the deep UV (down to approximately 185 nm) where BK7 absorbs. Its low fluorescence also reduces background noise in fluorescence spectroscopy and low-concentration UV trace analysis.
Q2. What OH content do you recommend for UV-Vis versus deep-UV applications?
For standard UV-Vis (200–1100 nm), JGS-2 with low OH content is typically sufficient. For deep-UV (185–250 nm) or excimer-laser applications, we recommend JGS-1 synthetic fused silica with OH content below 1 ppm.
Q3. Can you customize UV flow cells with specific port geometry and path length?
Yes. We custom-machine fused silica flow cells with path lengths from 0.1 mm to 100 mm, custom inlet and outlet port geometry, and threaded or compression fittings to match your instrument CAD.
Q4. What AR coatings are available for UV wavelengths?
We offer single-layer MgF2 AR coating centered at 200 nm or 250 nm, and broadband UV AR coating covering 200–400 nm. Custom wavelength centering and dual-band UV-Vis AR coatings are available on request.
Q5. Do you supply fused silica UV optics to US laboratory equipment manufacturers with export documentation?
Yes. We support US customers with COA, material traceability sheets, transmittance curve, dimensional report and export paperwork. Sample lead time is 5–7 working days; bulk orders typically require 12–18 working days.
Related Resources and Internal Links for Fused Silica UV Solutions
Continue your research with these three Felix Glass resources commonly reviewed by laboratory instrument engineers alongside this UV testing optics solution page.
Fused Silica Material Introduction
JGS-1, JGS-2 and JGS-3 fused silica grades with refractive index data, transmission curves and OH content specifications.
View material pageFused Silica UV Optical Window Catalog
Complete Felix Glass fused silica UV optical window product catalog with standard dimensions and UV AR coatings.
View product catalogUltraviolet Testing Instrument Case Study
How a North American environmental analyzer OEM integrated Felix Glass fused silica UV optics into a serial production line.
Read customer caseRequest a Custom Fused Silica UV Optics Design Review in 24 Hours
If you need custom fused silica UV optical components for your laboratory spectrometer, environmental analyzer or research instrument, send your technical drawings and wavelength requirements to our optical engineering team. We will provide a free optical design review and quotation within 24 hours for North American laboratory equipment manufacturers.
- 24-hour optical design review
- US-standard export packaging
- RoHS, REACH and JGS material traceability
