7017.10 - Of fused quartz or other fused silica:

This HTS category, 7017.10, specifically classifies laboratory, hygienic, or pharmaceutical glassware that is manufactured from fused quartz or other fused silica. These materials are chosen for their exceptional thermal stability, chemical inertness, and resistance to thermal shock, making them ideal for demanding laboratory applications. This includes items like beakers, flasks, crucibles, test tubes, and specialized apparatus used in scientific research, chemical analysis, and pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, where high purity and resilience are paramount.

This category is distinguished from its sibling, 7017.20.00.00, by its distinct material composition. While 7017.20.00.00 covers glassware made from other types of glass with a specific, low linear coefficient of thermal expansion, 7017.10 is exclusively for fused quartz and fused silica. It also differs from the "Other" category, 7017.90, which encompasses laboratory glassware made from materials not falling under the specific sub-classifications of fused quartz/silica or the low expansion glass mentioned previously.

Within the 7017.10 category, two subcategories exist to further refine the classification. The first, 7017.10.30.00, is for specialized quartz reactor tubes and holders specifically designed for use within diffusion and oxidation furnaces crucial for semiconductor wafer production. The second, 7017.10.60.00, designated as "Other," covers all remaining fused quartz or fused silica laboratory, hygienic, or pharmaceutical glassware not meeting the specific criteria for the reactor tubes and holders. This subdivision ensures precise classification based on specialized application versus general laboratory use.