Method for manufacturing a segmented crystal
AssigneeForschunginstitut fur mineralische und metallische Werkstoffe Edelsteine/Edelmetalle GmbH
InventorLothar Ackermann
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a crystal with at least two segments, wherein adjacent segments differ by at least one characteristic. The different segments can, for example, be of different materials, or have a different doping agent. The method makes possible the manufacturing of segmented crystals with high crystal quality, and as planar joining surfaces between the individual segments as possible. This is achieved in that the segmented crystal is grown directly from the molten mass.
Claims23
A method for manufacturing a continuous single crystal having at least two integral segments which differ in composition, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) forming a first segment by drawing it from a first crystal forming molten mass having a first composition so that it has a longitudinal axis in the direction of drawing,
- b) providing a second crystal forming molten mass of a different composition, and
- c) drawing a second segment from the second molten mass integral with the first segment to form a continuous single segmented crystal wherein prior to drawing the second segment, the first segment is rotated about its longitudinal axis with an end in one of the molten masses, at a rotational inversion speed that forms a planar end surface within a plane essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis so that a planar boundary is formed at an interface between the first and second segments that is essentially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.
A continuous segmented single crystal comprising at least two integral segments having different compositions and a boundary at the interface of the segments wherein the boundary is planar, said boundary being essentially free of crystal defects.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.