Abstract: A body of cerium-doped quartz glass is manufactured by melting together silicon oxide and a cerium (III) silicate compound, preferably Ce.sub.2 Si.sub.2 O.sub.7, in a reducing atmosphere. The invention provides a method of manufacturing said cerium-silicate compound having a tetragonal crystal structure. The quartz glass manufactured can be suitably used in a lamp envelope of UV-absorbing quartz glass, the water content in the quartz glass being less than 1 ppm.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing optical fibres in which a quartz glass tube is coated on the inside with core material, the assembly is contracted to form a solid rod which is then inserted into a quartz glass tube, after which the assembly is drawn. The last tube is thermally treated to eliminate contaminations at the surface which may detrimentally influence the tensile strength of the ultimate fibre.

Abstract: Method of preparing an aluminum oxide containing quartz glass activated by bivalent europium and comprising as glass matrix oxides mainly SiO.sub.2 and furthermore per mol of SiO.sub.2 up to at most 0.15 mol of at least one of the oxides, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, B.sub.2 O.sub.3, P.sub.2 O.sub.5, ZrO.sub.2, Scf.sub.2 O.sub.3, Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, La.sub.2 O.sub.3, Gd.sub.2 O.sub.3, Lu.sub.2 O.sub.3, the alkali metal oxides and the alkaline earth metal oxides. A mixture is made of the composite oxides or of compounds which yield these oxides. The mixture comprises europium in the form of an aluminum containing compound of bivalent europium. The mixture is melted at a high temperature in a reducing atmosphere and is then cooled. The luminescent quartz glasses obtained are used in luminescent screens of, for example, low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamps.

Abstract: Starting from pegmatitic sand, the invention provides a method of purifying quartz sand, in which the amount of iron is reduced to less than 0.3 ppm, the amount of zircon to less than 1 ppm, and the amount of phosphor to less than 0.2 ppm. Gas nuclei are also removed. The method is carried out by washing with solution which contains at least 15% by weight of HF in water until at least 40% by weight of the quartz sand is dissolved, and washing with a solution which contains at least 20% by weight of HCl in water at a temperature from 5.degree. to 95.degree. C. for at least 30 minutes. In this method, the grains of the sand are freely suspended in an upward stream of the acid. Such quartz sand can suitably be used for the manufacture of very pure quartz glass for use in mercury discharge lamps, in glass fibers for telecommunication purposes (cladding glass), or in semiconductor arrangements.