What Is Borosilicate Glass?
Borosilicate glass is a type of silica-based glass that contains boron trioxide (B₂O₃), which significantly enhances its thermal and chemical resistance. Compared to soda-lime glass, borosilicate offers a much lower thermal expansion coefficient, making it highly resistant to temperature shocks and aggressive environments.
It is widely used in laboratory glassware, optical components, medical devices, and industrial viewing windows, thanks to its exceptional clarity, thermal stability, and machinability.
Advantages of Custom Borosilicate Glass
Our custom borosilicate glass solutions provide:
🔹 High thermal shock resistance (ΔT > 170°C)
🔹 Operating temperatures up to 500°C
🔹 Excellent chemical resistance against acids, solvents, and alkalis
🔹 Low thermal expansion (~3.3 × 10⁻⁶/K)
🔹 Optical clarity and high transmission
🔹 Machinable for drilling, polishing, coating, and sealing
With our precision fabrication, you can design and produce borosilicate components with tight tolerances and complex geometries to match your application.
Custom Ultra-Thin Glass Services
Tihotoptics specializes in the custom manufacturing of borosilicate glass for demanding industrial, scientific, and optical applications. From high-temperature resistance to chemical durability and precision machining, we deliver tailored solutions for OEMs, research institutions, and device manufacturers worldwide.
Applications of Borosilicate Glass
Our custom borosilicate glass parts serve across diverse industries:
Laboratory beakers, microscope cover slips, microfluidic chips
Precision optical windows, protective covers, AR-coated panels
Glass cartridges, diagnostics slides, ampoules, biosensor substrates
High-temperature sight glass, reactor viewports, sensor protection windows
Insulation panels, display cover glass, sealed battery containers
Technical Specifications & Available Grades
We work with premium borosilicate glass materials such as:
| Material | Thermal Expansion (×10⁻⁶/K) | Max Temperature | Refractive Index (nd) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOROFLOAT® 33 | 3.3 | 450–500°C | 1.47 | Made by SCHOTT, optical g0rade |
Thickness: 0.11 mm to 100 mm
Dimensions: Up to 500×500 mm or per drawing
Surface Quality: Up to 20/10 scratch-dig, Ra < 1 nm
Edge Finish: Ground, beveled, polished
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can you drill holes in borosilicate glass?
A:Yes, we provide laser and ultrasonic drilling, including blind holes and through-holes as small as 0.2 mm.
What's the thinnest borosilicate glass you can process?
A:We can process down to 0.3 mm, suitable for diagnostics, optics, and microfluidic platforms.
Q: Can borosilicate glass be AR-coated or ITO-coated?
A:Absolutely. Our coating services include custom AR coatings, conductive ITO, and dielectric layers.
Do you offer small-batch or prototyping services for borosilicate components?
A: Yes, we support low-volume orders and prototyping, with flexible MOQ and fast turnaround, ideal for R&D or product development phases.
Q: What are the standard thickness tolerances for custom borosilicate glass?
A: Standard tolerance is ±0.1 mm, but tighter tolerances (±0.02 mm or better) are available upon request, especially for optical and fluidic applications.
Q: What is the typical lead time for custom borosilicate glass parts?
A: Standard lead time is 7–15 business days for small to medium orders. Complex components or high-volume batches may require 3–4 weeks. Expedited service is available.