Crucible molds and unitized crucibles
AssigneeGlobalWafers Co., Ltd.
InventorsRichard Joseph Phillips, Salvador Zepeda, Patrick Fredrick Boegemann, III, William Luter
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Abstract
Methods for forming a unitized crucible assembly for holding a melt of silicon for forming a silicon ingot are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods involve a porous crucible mold having a channel network with a bottom channel, an outer sidewall channel that extends from the bottom channel, and a central weir channel that extends from the bottom channel. A slip slurry may be added to the channel network and the liquid carrier of the slip slurry may be drawn into the mold. The resulting green body may be sintered to form the crucible assembly.
Claims15
1-26. (canceled)
A crucible mold comprising:
- a lower portion;
- and
- an upper portion disposed above the lower portion, the upper portion forming:
- a central weir channel;
- and
- an inner weir channel;
- wherein the upper portion and lower portion together form:
- a bottom channel;
- and
- a sidewall channel fluidly connected to the bottom channel, wherein the central weir channel and inner weir channel extend from the bottom channel.
A crucible assembly comprising:
- a bottom;
- an outer sidewall that extends upward from the bottom;
- a central weir that extends upward from the bottom;
- and
- an inner weir that extends upward from the bottom, the central weir being disposed between the outer sidewall and the inner weir, wherein the bottom, outer sidewall, central weir and inner weir are unitized and are free of seams at (1) a joint between the outer sidewall and the bottom, (2) a joint between the central weir and the bottom, (3) a joint between the inner weir and the bottom.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.