What Is Borosilicate Glass?
Borosilicate glass is a silica-based specialty glass that contains boron trioxide (B₂O₃). The addition of boron drastically improves its thermal shock resistance, chemical durability, and mechanical stability compared to standard soda-lime glass.
Because of its low thermal expansion coefficient (~3.3 × 10⁻⁶/K), borosilicate glass can withstand rapid temperature fluctuations and aggressive environments without cracking or deforming.
It is widely recognized as one of the most versatile technical glasses, used in laboratory research, optical systems, industrial equipment, and medical devices.
Advantages of Borosilicate Glass
Our custom borosilicate glass machining services provide the following benefits:
- High thermal shock resistance (ΔT > 170°C)
- Continuous operating temperatures up to 500°C
- Low coefficient of thermal expansion (~3.3 × 10⁻⁶/K)
- High optical clarity & light transmission
- Precision machinability for drilling, polishing, AR/ITO coating, and sealing
With our precision fabrication, you can design and produce borosilicate components with tight tolerances and complex geometries to match your application.
Borosilicate Glass vs Other Glass Types
Choosing the right glass material is critical for performance:
Borosilicate vs Soda-Lime Glass: Borosilicate is far more resistant to heat and chemicals, making it ideal for demanding environments.
Borosilicate vs Quartz Glass: Quartz can withstand even higher temperatures (>1000°C), but borosilicate is more cost-effective and easier to machine.
Borosilicate vs Aluminosilicate Glass: Aluminosilicate offers higher mechanical strength, but borosilicate provides superior optical clarity for scientific and optical use.
This makes borosilicate the best balance of cost, machinability, and performance for most industrial and optical applications.
Customizable Borosilicate Glass
At Tihot Optics, we provide full customization for all major borosilicate glass types. Customers can tailor thickness, dimensions, surface, edge, coatings, and mechanical processing, suitable for R&D, prototyping, or full-scale production.
Borosilicate Glass 3.3 (Low Expansion)
- Applications: Laboratory glassware, optical windows, industrial viewing windows, medical devices
| Parameter | Custom Options |
|---|---|
| Thickness | 0.11 – 100 mm |
| Dimensions | per drawing |
| Surface Quality | Scratch-dig up to 20/10, Ra < 1 nm |
| Edge Finish | Ground, beveled, polished |
| Additional Options | Laser & ultrasonic drilling, CNC cutting, AR/ITO coating |
Alkali-free Borosilicate Glass
- Applications: TFT-LCD, OLED display panels, semiconductor substrates
| Parameter | Custom Options |
|---|---|
| Thickness | 0.1 – 10 mm |
| Dimensions | Per customer design, ultra-flat tolerance |
| Surface Quality | Optical-grade, scratch-free |
| Edge Finish | Polished or beveled |
| Additional Options | AR, ITO, dielectric coatings, edge finishing |
Borosilicate Thin Glass
- Applications: Microfluidics, optical components, flexible electronics
| Parameter | Custom Options |
|---|---|
| Thickness | 0.03 – 1.1 mm |
| Dimensions | Ultra-thin sheets per design |
| Surface Quality | Ra < 1 nm, high transmission |
| Edge Finish | Polished |
| Additional Options | Chemical strengthening, AR/ITO coating, precision cutting |
Special Borosilicate Glass
- Applications: High-temperature industrial windows, furnace glass, thermal protection
| Parameter | Custom Options |
|---|---|
| Thickness | 2 – 50 mm |
| Dimensions | Up to 500 × 500 mm or per drawing |
| Surface Quality | Scratch-free |
| Edge Finish | Polished, beveled |
| Additional Options | CNC shaping, laser cutting, AR coating, tempered treatment |
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.
Q:Why Borosilicate Glass is the Safer Choice
One of the primary advantages of borosilicate glass is its remarkable resistance to thermal shock. It can endure abrupt changes in temperature without cracking or breaking, making it ideal for laboratory experiments, oven-to-table cookware, and high-performance lighting applications.