QUARTZ CRYSTAL TECHNOLOGY IN THE USSR AND EASTERN EUROPE (S-08909)

Created: 10/2/1975

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

CIA HISTORICAL REVIEW PROGRAM

RELEASE AS

hekoranduh for: chief, jffjrfU-'

mr<

oqarfczchnoroqy

w^-th*

1. attachedrief ai:sgui^%qf.:soviet and eas eurodeart caDabiltlies to 'prc^irc^QU^rlz.crystals (attach-

3

oncer^ngttachments should be

office of economic rescarc!

attachments: as stated

ATTACHMENT A

USSR and Eastern Europe: Production of Quartz Crystals General

Information on output of quartz crystals or on quartz

crystal technology in Communist countries is extremely sparse.

That which is known is presented below, by country, andin tho attached table. The information suggests that quartz crystal .technology in the USSR and Eastern Europeeglected area, that it lags, everywhere, behind that of the West, and that tho Communist countries do not have, the capability to produce crystals and devices in the quality, assortment, and quantity needed to meet all of their

Output by Country USSR

As far as wo can determine, until very recently, the USSR has produced quartz crystalselatively small scale in laboratories and research institutes. Apparently, the first Soviet plant for the production of crystalline quartz has just been completed or is in the process of being at Nadym. production was scheduled to begino further details are available.

msr

Bulgaria

A plant to produce oscillator-grade quartz crystals using Soviet equipment reportedly was under construction in Sofia The subsequent purchase of technology from the UK suggests that plans to produce crystals using Soviet technology may have been scrapped.

East Germany

East Germany-appears, to be tho most experienced, among East European countries, in the field of quartz crystal TwoVEB Zeiss/Jcna and VEB wf in Berlin

*

-

reportedly were producing quartz crystals in the. Recently it has been reported that the VEB Ceramics Works in Hermsdorf has produced quartz filters for frequencies,Hz.C

D

Hungary C

D reported that Hungarian filter designs were good but that Hungary could not produce high quality filters in quantity, and that high quality quartz was in short supply.

Poland

As far as can be determined, Poland had no capability to produce quartz crystals prior Poland first produced,

in the laboratory, synthetic quartzize that possibly would justify industrial exploitation,owever, there is no evidence that industrial-scale production followed. Indeed, since that development, Poland hasto purchase quartz crystal production technologyumber of Western countries; notably ijhe UK, Franco, and the

US. oland claimed to be producing quartzS KHz) under Soviet license, and claimed to have signed a

claims, it .seems apparent from recent negotiationsS firm that Poland's current production capability is inadequate: Poland already han purchased two autoclaves (large, high pressure containers for growing synthetic quartz) and is negotiatingurnkey plant to produceetric bona of oscillator-quartz annually.

Romania and Czechoslovakia

of

had no production capacity for quartz crystals or filters. Ho information is available on quartz production or technology in Czechoslovakia.

Original document.

Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic: