System for forming an ingot including crucible and conditioning members

US10221500B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Corner Star Limited · CN

Inventors

• Salvador Zepeda · Saint Peters, US
• Richard J. Phillips · Saint Peters, US
• Christopher Vaughn Luers · O'Fallon, US
• Steven L. Kimbel · Holden, US
• Harold W. Korb · Chesterfield, US
• John D. Holder · Knoxville, US
• Carissima Marie Hudson · Holden, US
• Hariprasad Sreedharamurthy · Ballwin, US
• Stephan Haringer · Meran - Merano, IT
• Marco Zardoni · Cene, IT

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 4, 2017
• Grant date: Mar 5, 2019
• Expiry date: Jan 4, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C30B29/06
• WIPO field: Surface technology, coating
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Systems and methods for forming an ingot from a melt are disclosed. A system includes a crucible defining a cavity for receiving the melt, and a first and second barrier to inhibit movement of the melt. A first passageway and a second passageway are arranged to allow the melt located within an outer zone to move into and through a transition zone and into an inner zone. Conditioning members are placed in at least one of the zones and arranged to contact the melt to reduce the number of micro-voids in the melt.