| CPC C03B 19/066 (2013.01) [G02B 6/02042 (2013.01); C03B 2201/02 (2013.01); C03B 2203/14 (2013.01)] | 13 Claims |

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1. A method of manufacturing a preform for optical fiber made of a quartz glass sintered body, the method comprising:
a step of mixing a glass raw material solution containing a quartz glass powder, a solvent, a dispersant, and a hardening resin to blend a slurry;
a step of hardening a mixture of the slurry and a hardener in a molding die to form a molded body;
a step of removing the molding die from the molded body;
a step of drying the molded body;
a step of degreasing the molded body after the step of drying;
a step of sintering the molded body after the step of degreasing to obtain the quartz glass sintered body, wherein:
(a) at least a portion of the quartz glass sintered body is an opaque body, the opaque body has a visible light transmittance of 90% or less at a length of 5 mm or less in one direction, and the opaque body has a bulk density of 2.1 g/cm3 or more;
(b) at least a portion of the quartz glass sintered body is an opaque body, the opaque body has a visible light transmittance of 90% or less at a length of 5 mm or less in one direction, and the opaque body has an open porosity of 3.5% or less; or
(c) at least a portion of the quartz glass sintered body is an opaque body, the opaque body has a visible light transmittance of 2.5% or more and 90% or less at a length of 5 mm or less in one direction.
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