Melt fixture and a sapphire component
AssigneeSaint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc.
InventorsJohn Walter Locher, Steven Anthony Zanella, Ralph Lampson MacLean, JR., Herbert Ellsworth Bates
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Abstract
Various single crystals are disclosed including sapphire. The single crystals have desirable geometric properties, including a width not less than about 15 cm and the thickness is not less than about 0.5 cm. The single crystal may also have other features, such as a maximum thickness variation, and as-formed crystals may have a generally symmetrical neck portion, particularly related to the transition from the neck to the main body of the crystal. Methods and for forming such crystals and an apparatus for carrying out the methods are disclosed as well.
Claims20
A melt fixture comprising:
- a crucible;
- a die open to and extending along a length of the crucible;
- and
- a plurality of thermal shields overlying the crucible and adjacent to the die, the thermal shields having a stepped configuration.
A sapphire component made by the method comprising machining a sapphire single crystal having a length, a width and a thickness, wherein the length>width>thickness, the width is not less than 28 cm, and the thickness is not less than 0.5 cm into the sapphire component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.