Process and apparatus for the cyclical manufacture of silicon shaped articles

US4769107A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Heliotronic Forschungs- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft fur Solarzellen-Grundstoffe mbH · DE

Inventors

• Dieter Helmreich · Burghausen, DE
• Cord Gessert · Burghausen, DE
• Hans-Dieter Miller · Stammham, DE
• Helmut Zauhar
• Georg Priewasser · Ach, AT
• Leonhard Schmidhammer · Tittmoning, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 26, 1985
• Grant date: Sep 6, 1988
• Expiry date: Jun 26, 2005

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C30B29/605
• WIPO field: Surface technology, coating
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A process and apparatus for the manufacture of silicon blocks having a columnar structure comprising monocrystalline crystal zones having a crystallographic preferred orientation. In a casting process, each mold filled with molten silicon is transferred, before the silicon has solidified completely, to a separate crystallization station where the silicon can then crystallize completely. During this process, the exposed surface of the silicon is maintained in a molten state until the end of the solidification process has almost been reached. The process allows the various, necessary steps to be carried out simultaneously and yields high-quality solar cell base material.