Why Quartz?

Quartz is used to produce inexpensive electronic components whose precision are very important to a variety of industries.

In many applications it is necessary to generate a frequency. The precise generation a frequency allow radios to transmit and receive signals that will not interfere with other radios in the area. The ability to produce a very precise frequency allows the available bandwidth to be utilized efficiently. Transmission frequencies are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States and similar bodies in other countries. A circuit called an oscillator is used to generate a signal of a particular frequency in most cellular telephones, wireless devices, pagers and two way radios. A quartz crystal resonator is used in the oscillator to generate a precise frequency.

A quartz device can also be used as a frequency selection device in the manufacture of an electronic filter. Filters are used in radios to select the desired signal and to reject signals next to the desired signal. The quartz filter allows the radio to reject strong, near by signals while accepting very weak on channel signals. The ability to build precise filters allows more radio channels to be squeezed into a given band of radio spectrum and thus provides a very efficient use of the available spectrum.

Key Properties

	High Q factor, which ranges from the low thousands to over 3 million. (See IR Q page)
	The piezoelectric properties of quartz provides a simple mechanism to interface the device with an electronic circuit.
	Stability with respect to temperature variation. Zero temperature coefficient quartz cuts exist and it is possible to build resonators stable to a few parts per million over a large temperature range.
	Stability of mechanical properties. Stress compensated cuts exist (SC cut crystals).
	Low solubility in everything, except fluorides, under standard conditions.
	Hard, but not brittle.
	Abundant in nature; easy to grow in large quantities, at low cost, and with relatively high purity and perfection.

Updated: 07/30/2008