Method of producing silicon metal particulates of reduced average particle size
AssigneeNeptec Optical Solutions, Inc.
InventorJohn Carberry
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus of reducing the average particle size of silicon metal particulates employing a liquid oxidant extractant admixed with the silicon metal particulates while the silicon metal particulates are subjected to attrition in an attrition mill. An essentially oxidant-free silicon metal particulate product is produced, with the particulate product having an average particle size within that range of average particle sizes where the silicon metal particulates are susceptible to violent exothermic reaction with an oxidant.
Claims20
A method of reducing the average particle size of a first quantity of silicon metal particulates comprising the steps of:
- admixing the first quantity of silicon metal particulates with a liquid having the ability to extract one or more oxidants from the silicon metal particulates, said step of admixing maintained for a time sufficient for wetting the first quantity of silicon metal particulates in the liquid prior to attrition to develop an oxidant free mixture of particulates and liquid,
- introducing said oxidant free mixture of particulates and liquid into an attrition mill, said step of introducing proceeding in the absence of oxidants,
- subjecting said silicon metal particulates of said mixture to attrition in the attrition mill for a time sufficient to reduce at least a portion of said silicon metal particulates to a preselected average particle size and for said liquid to extract one or more oxidants from said silicon metal particulates to produce a second quantity of reduced particle size silicon metal particulates being essentially oxidant free, and
- withdrawing from said attrition mill at least a portion of said second quantity of reduced particle size silicon metal particulates, along with a portion of said liquid.
A method of producing silicon metal particulates having an average particle size within that range of average particle sizes of silicon metal particulates wherein the silicon metal particulates are susceptible to violent exothermic reaction with an oxidant, said silicon metal particulates being essentially free of oxidants, the method comprising the steps of:
- wetting a first quantity of silicon metal particulates by mixing with a liquid having the capacity to attract and extract oxidants from the surfaces of silicon metal particulates, whereby said step of wetting providing an oxidant free mixture of said first Quantity of silicon metal particulates and liquid,
- treating said oxidant free mixture of said first quantity of silicon metal particulates and liquid, said silicon metal particulates of an average particle size outside that range of average particle sizes of silicon metal particulates wherein the silicon metal particulates are susceptible to violent exothermic reaction with an oxidant, in an attrition mill in the presence of a liquid oxidant extractant for a time sufficient to provide at least a second quantity of silicon metal particulates being essentially free of oxidants wherein the second quantity of silicon metal particulates having an average particle size within that range of average particle sizes of silicon metal particulates wherein the silicon metal particulates are susceptible to violent exothermic reaction with an oxidant.
A silicon metal particulate product comprising silicon metal particulates having surfaces essentially oxidant-free, said silicon metal particulates of an average particle size which is susceptible to violent exothermic reaction with an oxidant wherein said silicon metal particulate product is essentially oxidant-free.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.