Patent Publication Number: US-9422187-B1

Title: Laser sintering system and method for forming high purity, low roughness silica glass

Description:
This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/208,210, filed on Aug. 21, 2015, the content of which is relied upon and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The disclosure relates generally to formation of silica-containing articles, and specifically to the formation of thin silica glass sheets. Silica soot may be generated by a process, such as flame hydrolysis. The silica soot may then be sintered to form a transparent or partially transparent glass sheet. 
     SUMMARY 
     One embodiment of the disclosure relates to a method for making a thin sintered silica sheet. The method includes providing a soot deposition surface and forming a glass soot sheet by delivering a stream of glass soot particles from a soot generating device to the soot deposition surface. The method includes providing a sintering laser positioned to direct a laser beam onto the glass soot sheet and moving at least one of the glass soot sheet and the sintering laser relative to the other. The method includes forming a sintered glass sheet from the glass soot sheet by delivering a laser beam from the sintering laser onto the glass soot sheet. An average thickness of the sintered glass sheet is less than 500 μm, and the laser beam has an energy density between 0.001 J/mm 2  and 10 J/mm 2  during sintering. 
     An additional embodiment of the disclosure relates to a high purity sintered silica glass sheet. The sheet includes a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface. The sheet includes at least 99.9 mole % silica, and a sodium (Na) content of the silica glass sheet is less than 50 ppm. The sheet includes an average thickness between the first major surface and the second major surface of less than 500 μm. A roughness (Ra) of the first major surface is between 0.025 nm and 1 nm over at least one 0.023 mm 2  area of the first major surface. 
     An additional embodiment of the disclosure relates to high purity sintered silica glass sheet. The sheet includes a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface. The sheet includes at least 99.9 mole % silica, and a sodium (Na) content of silica glass sheet is less than 50 ppm. The sheet includes an average thickness between the first major surface and the second major surface of less than 500 μm. The sheet is fully sintered, and the sheet includes a plurality of voids located on at least one of the first major surface, the second major surface and an internal area between the first and second major surfaces such that the density of the fully sintered silica glass sheet is greater than 1.8 g/cc and less than 2.203 g/cc. At least some of the voids are on the first major surface forming depressions located on the first major surface. 
     An additional embodiment of the disclosure relates to a high purity sintered silica glass sheet. The sheet includes a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface. The sheet includes an edge section surrounding the first and second major surfaces and defining an outer perimeter of the silica glass sheet. The sheet includes at least 99.9 mole % silica, and a sodium (Na) content of silica glass sheet is less than 50 ppm. The sheet includes an average thickness between the first major surface and the second major surface of less than 500 μm. The edge section has an increased maximum thickness that is at least 10% greater than the average thickness. 
     Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the detailed description that follows, and, in part, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description or recognized by practicing the embodiments as described in the written description and claims hereof, as well as the appended drawings. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are merely exemplary, and are intended to provide an overview or framework to understand the nature and character of the claims. 
     The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate one or more embodiment(s), and together with the description serve to explain principles and the operation of the various embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a laser sintering system according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  shows a laser sintering system according to another exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  shows a laser sintering system according to another exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  shows a laser sintering system according to another exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  shows the output from a Zygo optical profiler measuring the surface of a laser sintered silica glass sheet formed via laser sintering according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  shows the output from a Zygo optical profiler measuring the surface of a laser sintered silica glass sheet formed via laser sintering according to another exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a 3D micro-scale representation of a measured profile of a surface of a laser sintered silica glass sheet formed via laser sintering according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 8A-8C  are atomic force microscopy profile scans of the glass sheet surface shown in  FIG. 7  according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  shows a comparative output from a Zygo optical profiler measuring the surface of a non-laser sintered silica material following surface polishing. 
         FIG. 10  shows magnified surface images surfaces of laser sintered silica glass sheets formed via various laser sintering processes according to exemplary embodiments. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view showing an edge section of a laser cut out subsection of a laser sintered silica glass sheet formed via laser sintering according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring generally to the figures, various embodiments of a sintered silica glass sheet/material as well as related systems and methods are shown. In various embodiments, the system and method disclosed herein utilizes one or more glass soot generating device (e.g., a flame hydrolysis burner) that is directed or aimed to deliver a stream of glass soot particles on to a soot deposition device or surface forming a glass soot sheet. The soot sheet is then sintered using a laser forming a silica glass sheet. In general, the laser beam is directed onto the soot sheet such that the soot densifies forming a fully sintered or partially sintered silica glass sheet. In various embodiments, the configuration and/or operation of the glass soot generating device, the soot deposition surface and/or the sintering laser are configured to form a sintered glass sheet having very high surface smoothness as compared to some sintered silica glass sheets formed from sintered silica soot (e.g., as compared to furnace and torch processes, and some other laser sintering processes). In some embodiments, the glass sheet formation process discussed herein forms a silica glass sheet having surface characteristics that are distinct from the surface characteristic of a polished silica surface such a polished, silica boule surface. 
     Further, the configuration and/or operation of the glass soot generating device, the soot deposition surface and/or the sintering laser are configured to form a sintered glass sheet having very low levels of certain contaminants (e.g., sodium (Na), surface hydroxyl groups, etc.) commonly found in silica materials formed using some other methods. Applicant has found that by using the laser sintering process and system discussed herein, sintered silica glass sheets can be provided with a high surface smoothness and low contaminant content without requiring additional polishing steps in some embodiments. 
     In further additional embodiments, sintered silica glass sheets discussed herein have a thickened or bulb shaped edge section that is formed by using a high powered cutting laser to cut out a section from the sintered silica glass sheet. This cut section can then be used in various ways as desired (e.g., a substrate for various devices and processes). The thickened edge section defines the outer perimeter of the cut silica glass sheet, and Applicant has found results in a silica sheet with various improved physical characteristics, such as improved strength characteristics. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a system and method for forming a high purity, high smoothness silica glass sheet is shown according to an exemplary embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 1 , system  10  includes a soot deposition device, shown as deposition drum  12 , having an outer deposition surface  14 . System  10  includes a soot generating device, shown as soot burner  16  (e.g., a flame hydrolysis burner), that directs a stream of glass soot particles  18  onto deposition surface  14  forming glass soot sheet  20 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , drum  12  rotates in the clockwise direction such that soot sheet  20  is advanced off of drum  12  in a processing direction indicated by the arrow  22  and advanced past sintering laser  24 . In some embodiments, soot sheet  20  is in tension (e.g., axial tension) in the direction of arrow  22 . In specific embodiments, soot sheet  20  is only in tension (e.g., axial tension) in the direction of arrow  22  such that tension is not applied widthwise across soot sheet  20 . Applicant was surprised to identify that widthwise tensioning of the soot sheet during sintering was not needed to maintain the surface characteristics, specifically roughness, discussed herein. However, in at least some other embodiments, soot sheet  20  is tensioned in the widthwise direction. In some embodiments, tensioning in different directions is selected to control the bow or warp of the sintered soot sheet. 
     As will be explained in more detail below, sintering laser  24  generates a laser beam  26  toward soot sheet  20 , and the energy from laser beam  26  sinters glass soot sheet into a partially or fully sintered glass sheet  28 . As will be understood, the energy from sintering laser beam  26  causes the densification of glass soot sheet  20  into a partially or fully sintered glass sheet  28 . Specifically, laser sintering of silica soot sheet  20  uses laser  24  to rapidly heat soot particles to temperatures above the soot melting point, and as a result of reflow of molten soot particles a fully dense, thin silica glass sheet  28  is formed. In various embodiments, soot sheet  20  has a starting density between 0.2 g/cc to 0.8 g/cc, and silica glass sheet  28  is a fully sintered silica glass sheet having a density of about 2.2 g/cc (e.g., 2.2 g/cc plus or minus 1%). As will be explained in more detail below, in some embodiments, silica glass sheet  28  is a fully sintered silica glass sheet including voids or bubbles such that the density of the sheet is less than 2.2 g/cc. In various other embodiments, soot sheet  20  has a starting density between 0.2 g/cc to 0.8 g/cc, and silica glass sheet  28  is a partially sintered silica glass sheet having a density between 0.2 g/cc and 2.2 g/cc. In various embodiments, sintered glass sheet  28  has length and width between 1 mm and 10 m, and in specific embodiments, at least one of the length and width of sintered glass sheet  28  is greater than 18 inches. It is believed that in various embodiments, system  10  allows for formation of sintered glass sheet  28  having length and/or width dimensions greater than the maximum dimensions of silica structures formed by other methods (e.g., silica boules which are typically limited to less than 18 inches in maximum dimension). 
     System  10  is configured to generate a soot sheet  20  having a smooth surface topology which translates into glass sheet  28  also having a smooth surface topology. In various embodiments, soot burner  16  is positioned a substantial distance from and/or at an angle relative to drum  12  such that soot streams  18  form a soot sheet  20  having a smooth upper surface. This positioning results in mixing of soot streams  18  prior to deposition onto surface  14 . In specific embodiments, the outlet nozzles of soot burner  16  are positioned between 1 inch and 12 inches, specifically 1 inch to 4 inches, and more specifically about 2.25 inches, from deposition surface  14 , and/or are positioned at a 30-45 degree angle relative to soot deposition surface  14 . In specific embodiments, soot stream  18  can be directed to split above and below drum  12  with exhaust, and in other embodiments, soot stream  18  is directed only to one side of drum  12 . In addition, the velocity of soot streams  18  leaving burner  16  may be relatively low facilitating even mixing of soot streams  18  prior to deposition onto surface  14 . Further, burner  16  may include a plurality of outlet nozzles, and burner  16  may have a large number of small sized outlet nozzles acting to facilitate even mixing of soot streams  18  prior to deposition onto surface  14 . In addition, burner  16  may be configured to better mixing of constituents and soot within channels inside the burners such as via a venturi nozzle and flow guides that generate intermixing and eddies. In some embodiments, these structures may be formed via 3D printing. 
     In various embodiments, laser  24  is configured to further facilitate the formation of glass sheet  28  having smooth surfaces. For example in various embodiments, sintering laser  24  is configured to direct laser beam  26  toward soot sheet  20  forming a sintering zone  36 . In the embodiment shown, sintering zone  36  extends the entire width of soot sheet  20 . As will be discussed in more detail below, laser  24  may be configured to control laser beam  26  to form sintering zone  36  in various ways that results in a glass sheet  28  having smooth surfaces. In various embodiments, laser  24  is configured to generate a laser beam having an energy density that sinters soot sheet  20  at a rate that forms smooth surfaces. In various embodiments, laser  24  generates a laser beam having an average energy density between 0.001 J/mm 2  and 10 J/mm 2 , specifically 0.01 J/mm 2  and 10 J/mm 2 , and more specifically between 0.03 J/mm 2  and 3 J/mm 2  during sintering. In some embodiments, laser  24  may be suited for sintering particularly thin soot sheets (e.g., less than 200 μm, 100 μm, 50 μm, etc. thick), and in such embodiments, laser  24  generates a laser beam having an average energy density between 0.001 J/mm 2  and 0.01 J/mm 2 . In other embodiments, system  10  is configured such that relative movement between soot sheet  20  and laser  24  occurs at a speed that facilitates formation of glass sheet  28  with smooth surfaces. In general, the relative speed in the direction of arrow  22  is between 0.1 mm/s and 10 m/s. In various embodiments, the relative speed in the direction of arrow  22  is between 0.1 mm/s and 10 mm/s, specifically between 0.5 mm/s and 5 mm/s, and more specifically between 0.5 mm/s and 2 mm/s. In various embodiments, system  10  is a high speed sintering system having a relative speed in the direction of arrow  22  between 1 m/s and 10 m/s. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , in one embodiment, laser  24  utilizes dynamic beam shaping to form sintering zone  36 . In this embodiment, laser beam  26  is rapidly scanned over soot sheet  20  generally in the direction of arrows  38 . The rapid scanning of laser beam  26  emulates a line-shaped laser beam generally in the shape of sintering zone  36 . In a specific embodiment, laser  24  utilizes a two-dimensional galvo scanner to scan laser beam  26  forming sintering zone  36 . Using a two-dimensional galvo scanner, laser beam  26  can be rastered across the entire width of soot sheet  20  or across a specific subarea of soot sheet  20 . In some embodiments, laser beam  26  is rastered as soot sheet  20  is translated in the direction of arrow  22 . During the sintering process the rastering speed may vary depending on the desired sintering characteristics and surface features. In addition, the rastering pattern of laser beam  26  may be linear, sinusoidal, uni-directional, bidirectional, zig-zag, etc., in order to produce sheets with designed and selected flatness, density or other attributes. In such embodiments, laser  24  may use galvo, polygonal, piezoelectric scanners and optical laser beam deflectors such as AODs (acousto-optical deflectors) to scan laser beam  26  to form sintering zone  36 . 
     In a specific embodiment using a dynamic laser beam shaping to form sintering zone  36 , a CO 2  laser beam was scanned bi-directionally at a speed of 1500 mm/s. The CO 2  laser beam has a Gaussian intensity profile with 1/e 2  diameter of 4 mm. The step size of the bi-directional scan was 0.06 mm. At settings of scan length of 55 mm and a laser power of 200 W, a soot sheet  20  of roughly 400 μm in thickness was sintered into a silica glass sheet  28  of ˜100 μm thickness. The effective sintering speed was ˜1.6 mm/s, and the sintering energy density was 0.65 J/mm 2 . 
     In some embodiments, the dynamic laser beam shaping and sintering approach enables laser power modulation on-the-fly while the laser beam is scanned. For example, if the scanning laser beam has a sinusoidal speed profile, a controller can send a sinusoidal power modulation signal to the laser controller in order to maintain a constant laser energy density on soot sheet  20  within sintering zone  36 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , in one embodiment, laser  24  utilizes a geometrical/diffractive approach to beam shaping to form sintering zone  36 . In this embodiment, laser  24  is utilized in combination with a shaping system  40  to transform laser beam  26  into an elongate laser beam  42 . In various embodiments, shaping system  40  may include one or more optical element, such as lenses, prisms, mirrors, diffractive optics, etc. to form elongate laser beam  42 . In various embodiments, elongate laser beam  42  has a uniform intensity distribution in the width direction across soot sheet  20 . In various embodiments, shaping system  40  may be configured to generate an elongate laser beam  42  having a width between 1 mm and 10 m, and a height between 0.5 mm and 10 mm. 
     In a specific embodiment using geometrical/diffractive laser beam shaping to form sintering zone  36 , a CO 2  laser beam of 12 mm in diameter was expanded using a beam expander of Galilean design. The expanded laser beam is about 50 mm in diameter. The expanded laser beam was then transformed into a line shape using an asymmetric aspheric lens with a focal length of ˜300 mm. The line-shaped laser beam has a dimension of 55 mm×2 mm. The laser power density, which is defined as laser power divided by area, is 1.8 W/mm 2 . During the sintering process, the line-shaped laser beam is kept stationary while soot sheet  20  was translated. At a laser power of 200 W, a soot sheet  20  of roughly 400 μm in thickness was sintered into a silica glass sheet  28  of ˜100 μm thickness at a speed of 1.5 mm/s. The corresponding energy density for sintering is 1.0 J/mm 2 . 
     In various embodiments, laser  24  can be a laser at any wavelength or pulse width so long as there is enough absorption by the soot particles to cause sintering. The absorption can be linear or nonlinear. In a specific embodiment, laser  24  is a CO 2  laser. In another embodiment, laser  24  may be a CO laser with a wavelength of around 5 μm. In such embodiments, a CO laser  24  can penetrate deeper into soot sheet  20 , and thus a CO laser  24  may be used to sinter thicker soot sheets  20 . In various embodiments, the penetration depth of a CO 2  laser  24  in silica soot sheet  20  is less than 10 μm, while the penetration depth of the CO laser is ˜100 μm. In some embodiments, soot sheet  20  may be pre-heated from the backside, for example, using a resistive heater, an IR lamp, etc, to further increase the depth of sintering formed via laser  24 . 
     In some embodiments, system  10  is configured to maintain a constant sintering temperature during the laser sintering process. This can be achieved by adding temperature sensors along the sintering line. The temperature sensor data can be used to control the laser power in order to maintain constant sintering temperature. For example, a series of germanium or silicon detectors can be installed along the sintering line. The detector signals are read by a controller. The controller can process the signals and use the info to control the laser output power accordingly. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , in one embodiment, laser  24  may be configured to generate sintering zone  36  that does not extend the entire width of soot sheet  20 . In some such embodiments, the smaller sintering zone  36  may result in lower unintended heating of equipment adjacent laser  24  and/or soot sheet  20 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , in various embodiments, system  10  may include additional lasers  44  and  46  that are configured to fully or partially sinter edge portions of soot sheet  20 . This may facilitate handling of soot sheet  20  during laser sintering to form sintered sheet  28 . 
     In contrast to some silica glass formation processes (e.g., boule formation processes), system  10  is configured to produce silica glass sheet  28  having very high purity levels with very low thicknesses. In various embodiments, silica glass sheet  28  has a thicknesses (i.e., the dimension perpendicular to the major and minor surfaces) of less than 500 μm, of less than 250 μm, of less 150 μm and of less than 100 μm. Further, in various embodiments, silica glass sheet  28  is least 99.9 mole % silica, and specifically at least 99.99 mole % silica. In addition, silica glass sheet  28  is formed having very low levels of contaminant elements common in silica glass formed by other methods. In specific embodiments, silica glass sheet  28  has a total sodium (Na) content of less than 50 ppm. In various embodiments, the sodium content of silica glass sheet  28  is substantially consistent throughout sheet  28  such that the total sodium content is less than 50 ppm at all depths within silica glass sheet  28 . This low total sodium content and the even sodium distribution is in contrast to some silica structures (e.g., silica boules) which have higher overall sodium content that varies at different depths within the boule. In various embodiments, it is believed that the low sodium content discussed herein provides glass sheet  28  with optical loss reduction, index of refraction uniformity and chemical purity/non-reactivity as compared to other silica materials with higher sodium content. 
     In other embodiments, silica glass sheet  28  has a low level of hydroxyl (OH) concentration. In various embodiments, the OH concentration can be controlled to impact the viscosity, refractive properties, and other properties of silica glass sheet  28 . In various embodiments, beta OH is less than 0.02 abs/mm and more specifically is less than 0.002 abs/mm. In some embodiments, the OH concentration of silica glass sheet  28  formed using laser sintering system  10  is less than the OH concentration of silica material formed using some other formation methods (e.g., plasma sintering, flame sintering and/or sintering process that dry using chlorine prior to sintering). In contrast to some silica materials that utilize a surface treatment with a material such as hydrofluoric acid, silica glass sheet  28  has a low surface halogen concentration and a low surface OH concentration. 
     In various embodiments, sintered silica glass sheet  28  has a fictive temperature (Tf) that is higher than the Tf of at least some silica materials, such as silica boules. For example, it is believed that at least in some embodiments, sintered silica glass sheet  28  has a fictive temperature between 1100 degrees C. and 2000 degrees C., specifically between 1500 degrees and 1800 degrees C., and more specifically between 1600 degrees C. and 1700 degrees C. In a specific embodiment, sintered silica glass sheet  28  has a fictive temperature of about 1635 degrees C. (e.g., 1635 degrees C. plus or minus 1%), such as relative to fully-annealed such glass. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5-8C , characteristics of the surface profile, topology and roughness of sintered glass sheet  28  are shown according to exemplary embodiments.  FIG. 5  shows a Zygo optical profile scan of an embodiment of silica glass sheet  28  formed using a galvo based scanning laser system, such as that shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 6  shows a Zygo optical profile scan of an embodiment of silica glass sheet  28  formed using a geometrical/diffractive laser beam shaping, such as that shown in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 7  is a 3D micro-scale representation of a measured profile of a surface of an embodiment of silica glass sheet  28  according to an exemplary embodiment.  FIGS. 8A-8C  show an atomic force microscopy AFM line scans of the surface of the silica glass  28  taken widthwise at three different positions along the length of glass sheet  28  shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     In various embodiments, sintered glass sheet  28  has opposing first and second major surfaces, at least one of which has a high level of smoothness. In various embodiments, the roughness (Ra) of at least one of the first major surface and the second major surface of sintered glass sheet  28  is between 0.025 nm and 1 nm, specifically between 0.1 nm and 1 nm and specifically between 0.025 nm and 0.5 nm, over at least one 0.023 mm 2  area. In one such embodiment, Ra is determined using a Zygo optical profile measurement as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , and specifically determined using the Zygo with a 130 μm×180 μm spot size. In some embodiments, the roughness (Ra) of at least one of the first major surface and the second major surface of sintered glass sheet  28  is between 0.12 nm and 0.25 nm as measured using AFM over a 2 μm line scan, as shown in  FIGS. 8A-8C . In specific embodiments, sintered glass sheet  28  has a low roughness level on a small scale measurement, and a larger roughness level with a larger scale measure. In various embodiments, the roughness (Ra) of at least one of the first major surface and the second major surface of sintered glass sheet  28  is between 0.025 nm and 1 nm over at least one 0.023 mm 2  area, and an Ra of between 1 μm and 2 μm using a profilometer and a scan length of 5 mm. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5-8C , while the major surfaces of sintered glass sheet  28  are smooth, the surfaces do have a nanoscale surface topology including series of raised and recessed features. In the embodiments discussed herein, the raised and recessed features are relatively small contributing to the low surface roughness. In various embodiments, each raised feature has a maximum peak height that is between 0.1 μm and 10 μm, an specifically between 1 μm and 2 μm, relative to the average or baseline height of the topology as measured using a profilometer and a scan length of 5 mm. In specific embodiments, the topology of one or more surface of glass sheet  28  is such that the maximum vertical distance between the bottom of a recessed feature (e.g., a valley) and the top of a raised feature (e.g., a peak) is between 1 nm and 100 nm within at least one 0.023 mm 2  area as measured by a Zygo optical profile measurement. Table 1 shows roughness data from an AFM scan of a surface of a sintered glass sheet  28  according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Roughness Measurements 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 scan 
                 Rq 
                 Ra 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Scan No./Sample No. 
                 size 
                 (nm)  
                 (nm) 
                 Skewness 
                 Kurtosis 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Scan 1 - Sample 1 
                 500 nm 
                 0.164 
                 0.131 
                 −0.00552 
                 3.03 
               
               
                 Scan 2 - Sample 1 
                 500 nm 
                 0.173 
                 0.138 
                 −0.0925 
                 3.08 
               
               
                 Scan 3 - Sample 1 
                 500 nm 
                 0.16  
                 0.129 
                 0.043 
                 2.91 
               
               
                 Scan 4 - Sample 1 
                 500 nm 
                 0.178 
                 0.142 
                 0.00239 
                 3 
               
               
                 Scan 5 - Sample 1 
                 500 nm 
                 0.164 
                 0.131 
                 −0.00533 
                 2.97 
               
               
                 Scan 6 - Sample 1 
                  2 um 
                 0.219 
                 0.174 
                 0.0273 
                 3 
               
               
                 Scan 7 - Sample 1 
                  2 um 
                 0.196 
                 0.156 
                 0.0218 
                 3 
               
               
                 Scan 8 - Sample 1 
                  2 um 
                 0.204 
                 0.162 
                 −0.0261 
                 3.11 
               
               
                 Scan 9 - Sample 1 
                  2 um 
                 0.202 
                 0.161 
                 0.0227 
                 2.96 
               
               
                 Scan 1 - Sample 2 
                 500 nm 
                 0.182 
                 0.143 
                 0.225 
                 3.91 
               
               
                 Scan 2 - Sample 2 
                 500 nm 
                 0.175 
                 0.138 
                 0.142 
                 3.35 
               
               
                 Scan 3 - Sample 2 
                 500 nm 
                 0.181 
                 0.142 
                 0.424 
                 6.09 
               
               
                 Scan 4 - Sample 2 
                  2 um 
                 0.215 
                 0.167 
                 0.685 
                 12.1 
               
               
                 Scan 5 - Sample 2 
                  2 um 
                 0.223 
                 0.172 
                 1.07 
                 20.4 
               
               
                 Scan 6 - Sample 2 
                  2 um 
                 0.231 
                 0.179 
                 0.705 
                 11.1 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     As shown best in  FIG. 7 , silica glass sheet  28  may include a plurality of voids or bubbles. In various embodiments, some of the voids or bubbles may be located on the surface of silica glass sheet  28 , forming depressions  50  shown in  FIG. 7 , and other bubbles or voids may be located within an internal area of the sintered silica material of silica glass sheet  28 . In such embodiments, the bubbles or voids result in sheet  28  having a bulk density less than the maximum density of sintered silica without voids or bubbles. In various embodiments, sintered silica glass sheet  28  is a fully sintered silica sheet (e.g., one with a low amount or no unsintered silica soot particles) that has a density greater than 1.8 g/cc and less than 2.2 g/cc and specifically less than 2.203 g/cc (e.g., the maximum density of fully sintered silica without any voids or bubbles). In such embodiments, soot sheet  20  may have a starting density of between 0.2 g/cc to 0.8 g/cc, and through interaction with laser beam  26 , soot sheet  20  densifies into fully sintered glass silica sheet that has a density greater than 1.8 g/cc and less than 2.203 g/cc, and more specifically between 1.8 g/cc and less than 2.15 g/cc. In various embodiments, formation of bubbles, voids or surface depressions  50  may be controlled via control of laser operation and may also be formed from impact with particulate matter traveling from soot burner  16 . In various embodiments, voids within silica glass sheet  28  and specifically depressions  50  may be advantageous in applications such as a substrate for carbon nanotube (CNT) growth where depressions  50  act to hold CNT catalyst. 
     For comparison,  FIG. 9  shows a Zygo plot of a polished silica boule  60  formed from a non-laser sintering process, specifically a sliced and polished section from a silica ingot. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the polished silica boule  60  has a surface topology with a different appearance than the surface topologies of the different embodiments of sintered glass sheet  28  shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . For example, boule  60  has linear abrasion marks  62  that may be formed during different steps of the boule formation process, during handling and/or during polishing. In addition, the surface topology of boule  60  shown in  FIG. 9  has directionality in which surface features extend generally in the direction of movement of the polishing device (extending from the upper left corner toward the bottom right corner in the image shown). In contrast, the surface topology of the embodiments of silica glass sheet  28  shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  exhibit a more random distribution of peaks and valleys with little or no directionality. In such embodiments, silica glass sheet  28  does not include elongate raised or recessed features, wherein the maximum length and maximum width of raised and/or recessed features is less than 10 μm, specifically less than 3 μm and in some embodiments, less than 1 μm, within at least one 0.023 mm 2  area. 
     In some embodiments, silica glass sheet  28  may have bulk curvature or warp such that the opposing major surfaces of silica glass sheet  28  deviate somewhat from a planar configuration. As shown in  FIGS. 8A-8C  in some embodiments, one of the major surfaces of silica glass sheet  28  has concave shape extending across the width of sheet  28  such that the center of one of the major surfaces of sheet  28  is positioned lower than the lateral edges of sheet  28 . In various embodiments, the warp of sheet  28  is between 0.5 mm and 8 mm as measured within an area of 3750 mm 2 . In a example, the warp of a sample of sheet  28  was measured and taken from the Werth gauge on sheet  28  having dimensions 50 mm×75 mm. In another embodiment, the warp of sheet  28  is less than 20 μm across a 150 mm×150 mm square area. 
     In various embodiments, silica glass sheet  28  has two major surfaces, the upper surface formed from the portion of soot sheet  20  facing soot burner  16 , and the lower surface formed from the portion of soot sheet  20  which is in contact with drum  12 . In various embodiments, either the upper surface or the lower surface or both of silica glass sheet  28  may have any of the characteristics discussed herein. In specific embodiments, upper surface of silica glass sheet  28  may have the surface characteristics discussed herein, and the lower surface has surface configuration, topology, roughness, surface chemistry, etc. that is different from the upper surface resulting from the contact with drum  12 . In a specific embodiment, the lower surface of silica sheet has a roughness (Ra) that is greater than that of the upper surface, and the Ra of the lower surface of silica glass sheet  28  may be between 0 and 1 μm. In another embodiment, lower surface of silica sheet  28  has a roughness (Ra) that is less than that of the upper surface, and in such embodiments, cleaning of the soot deposition surface (e.g., surface  14  of drum  12 ) following removal of the soot sheet may result in the high level of smoothness of the lower surface of silica sheet  28 . 
     In various embodiments, laser  24  may be controlled in various ways to form a fully sintered or partially sintered glass sheet  28  having different characteristics, layers and/or surface structures. Starting with a porous body such as soot sheet  20 , it is possible to obtain a different porosity and/or surface topology in a partially or fully sintered sheet by varying the sintering conditions. In one embodiment, a CO 2  laser heat source creates a narrow sintering region that can be leveraged to control the porosity and surface topology. In various embodiments, sintering speed, laser type and laser power combinations can be varied based on various characteristics of soot sheet  20  (e.g., material type, thickness, density, etc.), based on requirements of the product utilizing the sintered sheet  28 , and/or based on the requirements of downstream processes. In various embodiments, system  10  discussed above can be operated to form sintered sheet  28  with various characteristics. In various embodiments, system  10  can be operated at a sintering speed (e.g., speed of relative movement between the soot sheet and the laser) between 0.5 mm/s and 5 mm/s, and laser  24  may be a CO 2  laser having a power between 100 W and 300 W. In some embodiments, soot sheet  20  passes through the laser sintering region of laser  24  a single time, and in other embodiments, soot sheet  20  passes through the laser sintering region of laser  24  multiple times. 
       FIG. 10  provides examples of different structures that can be formed under different sintering conditions. As shown in the top pane of  FIG. 10 , a partially sintered glass sheet having a speckled surface structure can be formed by sintering a 500 micron soot sheet  20 , having a bulk density of 0.35 g/cc, using 100 W CO 2  laser  24  generating an elongate laser beam (such as beam  42  in  FIG. 2 ) with sintering speed (e.g., speed of relative movement between the soot sheet and the laser) of 0.65 mm/s. As shown in the middle pane of  FIG. 10 , a partially sintered glass sheet having more organized and linear surface structure can be formed by sintering a 500 micron soot sheet  20 , having a bulk density of 0.35 g/cc, using 200 W CO 2  scanning laser  24  (e.g., as discussed above regarding  FIG. 1 ) with a sintering speed (e.g., speed of relative movement between the soot sheet and the laser) of 1.3 mm/s. As shown in the bottom pane of  FIG. 10 , a fully sintered glass sheet having a smooth surface (as discussed herein) can be formed by sintering a 500 micron thick embodiment of soot sheet  20 , having a bulk density of 0.35 g/cc, using 300 W CO 2  scanning laser  24  with sintering speed (e.g., speed of relative movement between the soot sheet and the laser) of 1.95 mm/s. 
     Further, in various embodiments, laser  24  may be controlled in various ways to form a fully sintered or partially sintered glass sheet  28  in which only a portion of soot sheet  20  is sintered such that a layer of sintered silica is supported by a lower layer of unsintered soot. In various embodiments, the remaining layer of soot may be removed prior to use of the sintered layer of silica, and in other embodiments, the remaining layer of soot may remain with the sintered layer of silica. In various embodiments, laser  24  may be controlled in various ways to form fully sintered structures within portions of unsintered soot. In some embodiments, sintered columns and/or hollow sintered tubes may be formed in soot sheet  20 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 11 , system  10  includes a cutting laser  30  that generates a cutting laser beam  32  that cuts a subsection  34  of sintered glass from glass sheet  28 . In addition to cutting subsection  34  from glass sheet  28 , cutting laser  30  is configured to form an edge structure surrounding and defining the outer perimeter of cut subsection  34 . In various embodiments, the edge structure is a thickened or bulblike section of melted silica material that may act to strengthen the cut subsection  34 . 
     In various embodiments, cutting laser  30  is a focused CO 2  laser beam. In one exemplary embodiment, a CO 2  laser beam with a focal length of about 860 mm is focused down to 500 μm in diameter. At a laser power of 200 W, the average power density at the focus is 1020 W/mm 2 . At this power density, laser ablation occurs, and a 100 μm thick silica sheet was cut at a speed of 70 mm/s. The peak energy density during the laser ablation process is 11 J/mm 2 . In contrast to prior laser cutting contemplated by Applicant, it was found that this high powered, energy dense laser created the strengthening edge profile discussed below. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , a cross-sectional view of sintered silica glass subsection  34  showing curved or bulb-shaped edge section  70 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , edge section  70  is a thickened section located adjacent the curved outwardly facing surface  72  that defines the outer perimeter of sintered glass subsection  34 . In various embodiments, T 1  is the average thickness of cut subsection  34  and may be within any of the thickness ranges of sheet  28  discussed herein, and edge section  70  has a maximum thickness T 2 . In various embodiments, T 2  is greater than 10% larger than T 1 , specifically is greater 20% larger than T 1 , and more specifically is about 40% larger than T 1 . In specific embodiments, T 1  is about 100 μm and T 2  is about 140 μm. In various embodiments, the increased thickness at T 2  is located close to the outermost point of outwardly facing surface  72 , such as within 300 μm, specifically within 200 μm and more specifically within 100 μm of the outermost point of outwardly facing surface  72 . 
     In various embodiments, bulb-shaped edge section  70  extends around substantially the entire perimeter of glass subsection  34  such that T 2  represents the average maximum thickness through bulb section  70  around the perimeter of glass subsection  34 . In other embodiments, bulb-shaped edge section  70  extends around the entire perimeter of glass subsection  34  such that T 2  represents the maximum thickness at all cross-sectional positions around the perimeter of glass subsection  34 . In general, shape of bulb-shaped edge section  70  and T 2  can be adjusted using suitable laser focus diameter and laser power level. 
     Cut glass subsection  34  includes a first curved transition section  74  providing the transition from the first major surface  78  to the edge section  70 , and a second curved transition section  76  providing the transition from the second major surface  80  to the edge section  70 . As shown, curved transition section  74  has a radius of curvature that is less than the radius of curvature of curved transition section  76 . In various embodiments, curved transition section  74  has a radius of curvature that is between 25 μm and 200 μm, and the radius of curvature of curved transition section  76  is between 100 μm and 500 μm. 
     In such embodiments, edge section  70  is formed via the cutting process and does not need a secondary formation step to form edge section  70 . Further it has been found that the melting process to form edge section  70  via cutting laser has less flaws and has a higher edge strength as compared to an edge structure formed via grinding. In various embodiments, the edge strength of edge section  70  is greater than 100 MPa, specifically is greater than 150 MPa, and more specifically about 200 MPa (e.g., 200 MPa plus or minus 1%). In various embodiments, edge section  70  acts to provide a high level of flexural strength, such as greater than 70 MPa, specifically greater than 100 MPa, and more specifically greater than 200 MPa. In various embodiments, the flexural strength of glass subsection  34  with edge section  70  is measured using a 2-point bend test. Such test methods determine the modulus of rupture (MOR) when bending glass and glass ceramics. Samples are subjected to mechanical flexure until failure occurs and peak load is recorded and converted to MOR. In such tests, MOR is the measure of flexural strength. 
     In various embodiments, the edge strength of edge section  70  can be further controlled, altered and/or enhanced by pre-heating the area that will form edge section such as through the use of a heater or a CO 2  laser beam prior to cutting. Preheating or annealing of the sheet prior to cutting reduces the amount of residual stress that may result from the cutting process. In an exemplary approach, a second laser beam may precede, coincide, or lag behind cutting laser beam  32 . Preheating reduces the temperature difference of the cut region relative to the rest of the sheet, and thereby results in reduction in the residual stress that may result from the cutting process. Thus in this arrangement, annealing during the pre-heating step reduces the amount of residual stress from the cutting process, thus increasing edge strength. 
     In various embodiments, edge sections  70  of different sizes, thickness, shapes, etc. may be formed by increasing or decreasing laser power and/or movement speed. In some embodiments, tension in the length and/or width direction may be applied to sheet  28  during cutting by cutting laser  30  to influence the shape of edge section  70 . 
     In some embodiments, sintered silica glass sheet  28  consists of at least 99.9% by weight, and specifically at least 99.99% by weight, of a material of the composition of (SiO 2 ) 1-x-y .M′ x M″ y , where either or both of M′ and M″ is an element (e.g., a metal) dopant, or substitution, which may be in an oxide form, or combination thereof, or is omitted, and where the sum of x plus y is less than 1, such as less than 0.5, or where x and y are 0.4 or less, such as 0.1 or less, such as 0.05 or less, such as 0.025 or less, and in some such embodiments greater than 1×10 −6  for either or both of M′ and M″. In certain embodiments, sintered silica glass sheet  28  is crystalline, and in some embodiments, sintered silica glass sheet  28  is amorphous. 
     In various embodiments, sintered silica glass sheet  28  is a strong and flexible substrate which may allow a device made with sheet  28  to be flexible. In various embodiments, sintered silica glass sheet  28  is bendable such that the thin sheet bends to a radius of curvature of at least 500 mm without fracture when at room temperature of 25° C. In specific embodiments, sintered silica glass sheet  28  is bendable such that the thin sheet bends to a radius of curvature of at least 300 mm without fracture when at room temperature of 25° C., and more specifically to a radius of curvature of at least 150 mm without fracture when at room temperature of 25° C. Bending of sintered silica glass sheet  28  may also help with roll-to-roll applications, such as processing across rollers in automated manufacturing equipment. 
     In various embodiments, sintered silica glass sheet  28  is a transparent or translucent sheet of silica glass. In one embodiment, sintered silica glass sheet  28  has a transmittance (e.g., transmittance in the visual spectrum) greater than 90% and more specifically greater 95%. In various embodiments, the sintered silica glass sheets discussed herein have a softening point temperature greater than 700° C. In various embodiments, the sintered silica glass sheets discussed herein have a low coefficient of thermal expansion less than 10×10-7/° C. in the temperature range of about 50 to 300° C. 
     While other sintering devices may be used to achieve some embodiments, Applicants have discovered advantages with laser sintering in the particular ways disclosed herein. For example, Applicants found that laser sintering may not radiate heat that damages surrounding equipment which may be concerns with sintering via induction heating and resistance heating. Applicants found that laser sintering has good control of temperature and repeatability of temperature and may not bow or otherwise warp sheet  28 , which may be a concern with flame sintering. In comparison to such other processes, laser sintering may provide the required heat directly and only to the portion of the soot sheet needing to be sintered. Laser sintering may not send significant amounts of contaminates and gases to the sintering zone, which may upset manufacturing of the thin sheets. Further, laser sintering is also scalable in size or for speed increases. 
     In various embodiments, the silica soot sheets disclosed herein are formed by a system that utilizes one or more glass soot generating device (e.g., a flame hydrolysis burner) that is directed or aimed to deliver a stream of glass soot particles on to a soot deposition surface. As noted above, the silica sheets discussed herein may include one or more dopant. In the example of a flame hydrolysis burner, doping can take place in situ during the flame hydrolysis process by introducing dopant precursors into the flame. In a further example, such as in the case of a plasma-heated soot sprayer, soot particles sprayed from the sprayer can be pre-doped or, alternatively, the sprayed soot particles can be subjected to a dopant-containing plasma atmosphere such that the soot particles are doped in the plasma. In a still further example, dopants can be incorporated into a soot sheet prior to or during sintering of the soot sheet. Example dopants include elements from Groups IA, IB, IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB, IVA, IVB, VA, VB and the rare earth series of the Periodic Table of Elements. In various embodiments, the silica soot particles may be doped with a variety of materials, including germania, titania, alumina, phosphorous, rare earth elements, metals and fluorine. 
     Example 1 
     A 400 micron thick soot sheet, composed of essentially 100% silica, was prepared using the process as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,677,058. A section of soot sheet 9 inches wide by 12 inches long was laid on a translating table in proximity to a CO 2  laser. The laser was a 400 W CO 2  laser, model number E-400, available from Coherent Inc. An asymmetric aspherical lens was positioned between the laser and the soot sheet. The asymmetric aspherical lens generates a line beam of 10 mm long and approximately 1 mm wide with uniform intensity distribution across both long and short axis. The lens was placed roughly 380 mm away from the soot sheet. A laser power of 18 watts of power was used. The soot sheet was moved at 1.25 mm/sec across the beam. Clear, sintered glass, fully densified, was created in the path of the beam. The sintered sheet had a surprisingly low amount of distortion as the soot was densified and shrunken away from the remaining soot sheet. In other sintering systems, the soot sheet would bend and deform unless held flat in a plane during the sinter process. 
     Example 2 
     Example 2 is the same as Example 1, except that the soot sheet was translated at 1.5 mm/sec. This produced a partially densified layer of glass atop of unsintered soot sheet. 
     Example 3 
     Example 3 is the same as Example 1, except that the essentially 100% silica soot sheet was solution doped to provide a small doping of Yb in the silica matrix, when sintered with the laser. 
     Unless otherwise expressly stated, it is in no way intended that any method set forth herein be construed as requiring that its steps be performed in a specific order. Accordingly, where a method claim does not actually recite an order to be followed by its steps or it is not otherwise specifically stated in the claims or descriptions that the steps are to be limited to a specific order, it is in no way intended that any particular order be inferred. In addition, as used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or more than one component or element, and is not intended to be construed as meaning only one. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosed embodiments. Since modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and variations of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the embodiments may occur to persons skilled in the art, the disclosed embodiments should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.