Patent ID: 6505484
Filing Date: 2003-01-14
Classification: C03B

Abstract:
A silica glass forming method of pressing a synthetic silica bulk having at least a set of opposed surfaces and a side face connecting outer edges of said set of opposed surfaces within a forming vessel having a size to permit the bulk to be reduced in at least one dimension and be enlarged in another dimension when pressed, said method comprising:placing an elastic member with permeability between pressing means and said surfaces of said synthetic silica bulk pressed by the pressing means; pressing said synthetic silica bulk through said elastic member by said pressing means to reduce the thickness of the silica bulk, when pressing at least one side of the set of opposed surfaces of said synthetic silica bulk under a high temperature condition by pressing means; and placing the elastic member between said side face of said synthetic silica bulk and inside surface of said forming vessel opposing to said side face, the elastic member having a width extending between the set of opposed surfaces of not more than a thickness of said synthetic silica bulk after the silica glass is formed.