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US 4,046,617 AGranted
Method of crystallization
OwnerJames C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Fletcher, Hans U. Walter +1inventors
InventorsJames C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Fletcher, Hans U. Walter, Robert S. Snyder
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Abstract
The method of refining, or growing, bulk single crystals in which the base material is suspended, positioned, and shaped as a containerless melt by wetting forces in an environment substantially free of gravity.
Claims2
A method of crystallization of a rod of material comprising:
- fixably supporting one end of the rod within a heat sink and otherwise extending the rod into a sealed enclosure, said enclosure being positioned in a substantially gravity-free environment, and said heat sink having surfaces outside of said enclosure;
- the interior of said enclosure containing a selected atmosphere;
- directing heat onto an end region of said rod opposite the end region at which it is supported, whereby it is melted;
- monitoring the temperature of selected regions of said rod and controlling the application of heat to said rod;
- selectively reducing the application of heat, whereby heat to said rod flows to said heat sink, and solidification of the melted rod occurs progressively, moving radially outwardly and longitudinally in a direction away from the supported end of said rod;
- and
- selectively transferring heat between said heat sink and a separate body, said separate body being external to said enclosure.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.