Abstract: A method is provided for determining the thermal expansion of a low thermal expansion material with very high accuracy of at most +/?3 ppb/K or less and/or with a reproducibility of at most +/?1 ppb/K or less. A measuring device is also provided that includes an advanced push rod dilatometer.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining the thermal expansion of a low thermal expansion material with very high accuracy of at most +/?3 ppb/K or less and/or with a reproducibility of at most +/?1 ppb/K or less. A measuring device is also provided that includes an advanced push rod dilatometer.

Abstract: The glasses used for making rigid disk substrates have the following composition (in % by weight based on oxides): SiO2, 40 to 50.8; Al2O3, 5 to 20; B2O3, 0 to 5; Li2O, 0 to 10; Na2O, 0 to 12, with the proviso that Li2O+Na2O, 5 to 12; K2O, 0 to 5; MgO, 0 to 20; CaO, 0 to 6, with the proviso that MgO+CaO, 4 to 20; SrO+BaO, 0 to 10; ZrO2, 0 to 5; TiO2,0 to 5; CeO2, 0 to 1; La2O3, 0 to 10; Fe2O3, 0 to 10; Nb2O5, 0 to 10; V2O5, 0 to 15, with the proviso that TiO2+ZrO2+La2O3+Fe2O3+Nb2O5+V2O5≧18.7; As2O3+Sb2O3+F. 0,1 to 1. These glasses also fulfill the following inequality formulae (1): (E/&rgr;)·+3,500 R>38.5 and 1000 R>1  (1), wherein R represents the relaxation rate of the glass and E/&rgr; represents specific elasticity modulus of the glass measured in GPA*cm3/g.

Abstract: The glasses used for making rigid disk substrates have the following composition (based on the % by weight of the oxides): SiO.sub.2, 40 to 60; Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, 5 to 20; B.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0 to 5; Li.sub.2 O, 0 to 10; Na.sub.2 O, 0 to 12, with the proviso that Li.sub.2 O+Na.sub.2 O 5 to 12; K.sub.2 O, 0 to 5; MgO, 0 to 20; CaO, 0 to 6, with the proviso that MgO+CaO, 4 to 20,SrO+BaO, 0 to 10; Zr.sub.2 O, 0 to 5; TiO.sub.2, 0 to 5; CeO.sub.2, 0 to 1; La.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0 to 10; Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0 to 10; Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5, 0 to 10; V.sub.2 O.sub.5, 0 to 15, with the proviso that TiO.sub.2 +ZrO.sub.2 +La.sub.2 O.sub.3 +Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 +Nb.sub.2 O.sub.3 +V.sub.2 O.sub.5 .gtoreq.8, As.sub.2 O.sub.3 +Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3 +F, 0.1 to 1; or, SiO.sub.2, 10 to 30; Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0 to 5; B.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0 to 8; Li.sub.2 O, 0 to 8; Na.sub.2 O, 1 to 10, with the proviso that Li.sub.2 O+Na.sub.2 O, 5 to 10; K.sub.2 O, 0 to 3; MgO, 0 to 12; CaO, 0 to 15, with the proviso that MgO+CaO,10 to 15, SrO+BaO, 0 to 8; Zr.sub.