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US 7,842,270 B2Granted
Ribbon crystal having reduced wetting string
AssigneeEvergreen Solar, Inc.
InventorsChristine Richardson, Weidong Huang, Richard Wallace, Daniel Doble, Scott Reitsma
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A string for use in a string ribbon crystal has a base portion with a refractory material, and an externally exposed layer radially outward of the refractory material. The base portion has a coefficient of thermal expansion that is generally matched with the coefficient of thermal expansion for silicon. The externally exposed layer has a contact angle with silicon of between about 15 and 120 degrees.
Claims12
A ribbon crystal comprising:
- a string having a string coefficient of thermal expansion and an outer surface;
- and
- a body comprising a body material having a body coefficient of thermal expansion that is generally matched to the string coefficient of thermal expansion,
- the string outer surface being partially exposed.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.