Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
In a known method of manufacturing a semiconductor body, comprising the step of compacting a mixture containing particulate silicon carbide and the step of sintering said mixture, said mixture including a non-conductive silicate material to provide a nonconductive silicate matrix for said silicon-carbide particles during said sintering step, the improvement wherein the said mixture is heated to coat said silicon carbide with nonconductive silicate matrix material, milling said coated silicon carbide, and compacting said coated silicon carbide.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
In a known method of manufacturing a semiconductor body, comprising the step of compacting a mixture containing particulate silicon carbide and the step of sintering said mixture, said mixture including a non-conductive silicate material to provide a nonconductive silicate matrix for said silicon-carbide particles during said sintering step, the improvement wherein the said mixture is heated to coat said silicon carbide with nonconductive silicate matrix material, milling said coated silicon carbide, and compacting said coated silicon carbide.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said mixture contains between 45% and 75% of silicon carbide by weight.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said mixture contains between 55% and 65% of silicon carbide by weight.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said sintering step is performed in a non-oxidizing atmosphere.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said material to form said silicate matrix is a silicate glass containing between 75% and 95% of silica by weight.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said material to form said silicate matrix is an alumino-silicate glass.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor pellet for a surface-discharge igniter comprising a first step of forming a particulate mixture containing between 50% and 70% by weight of silicon-carbide particles, the balance of said mixture consisting essentially of a nonconductive silicate a second step of heating said mixture to a temperature in the range of 1150° C. to 1300° C. to coat the silicon-carbide particles with said nonconductive silicate, a third step, performed subsequently to said second step of heating, of milling said mixture containing said nonconductive silicate coated silicon-carbide particles, a fourth step of compressing said coated particles into a unitary body, and a fifth step, performed subsequent to said compressing step, of sintering said unitary body at a temperature in the range of 1400° C. to 1600° C. in a non-oxidizing atmosphere.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor pellet for a surface-discharge igniter comprising a first step of forming a particulate mixture containing between 50% and 70% by weight of silicon-carbide particles, the balance of said mixture consisting essentially of a nonconductive silicate a second step of heating said mixture to a temperature in the range of 1150° C. to 1300° C. to coat the silicon-carbide particles with said nonconductive silicate, a third step, performed subsequently to said second step of heating, of milling said mixture containing said nonconductive silicate coated silicon-carbide particles, a fourth step of compressing said coated particles into a unitary body, and a fifth step, performed subsequent to said compressing step, of sintering said unitary body at a temperature in the range of 1400° C. to 1600° C. in a non-oxidizing atmosphere.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein said silicon-carbide particles are of a size to pass through a screen of 600 British Standard mesh.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method according to claim 7 including the step of milling said mixture following said second step, the step of sifting said milled mixture through a first screen of 30 British Standard mesh onto a second screen of 60 British Standard mesh, and the step of then loading the portion of the mixture retained by said second screen into a press for said third step of compacting.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein said material is a silica glass.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor pellet for a surface-discharge igniter comprising a first step of forming a particulate mixture containing 60% by weight of silicon carbide and 40% by weight of a nonconductive silica glass, a second step of heating said mixture to a temperature of substantially 1250° C. to coat the silicon-carbide particles with said silica glass, a third step performed subsequently to said second step of milling said coated silicon carbide particles, and a fourth step of compacting said mixture into a unitary body, and a fifth step of sintering said unitary body at a temperature of substantially 1500° C.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor pellet for a surface-discharge igniter comprising a first step of forming a particulate mixture containing 60% by weight of silicon carbide and 40% by weight of a nonconductive silica glass, a second step of heating said mixture to a temperature of substantially 1250° C. to coat the silicon-carbide particles with said silica glass, a third step performed subsequently to said second step of milling said coated silicon carbide particles, and a fourth step of compacting said mixture into a unitary body, and a fifth step of sintering said unitary body at a temperature of substantially 1500° C.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein said silica glass is an alumino-silicate glass.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein said silicon-carbide particles are of a size to pass through a screen of 600 British Standard mesh.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method according to claim 11 including the step of milling said mixture following said second step, the step of sifting said milled mixture through a first screen of 30 British Standard mesh onto a second screen of 60 British Standard mesh, and the step of then loading the portion of the mixture retained by said second screen into a press for said third step of compacting.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein said mixture is compacted under a pressure of substantially fifty thousand pounds per square inch.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
212 words
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor pellet, comprising a first step of forming a particulate mixture containing 50% to 70% by weight of silicon-carbide particles which pass through a 600 British Standard mesh, and 30% to 50% by weight of silica glass; a second step of heating said mixture to a temperature in the range of 1150° C to 1300° C for a period of at least half an hour in an oxidizing atmosphere; a third step of milling the product of said second step down to a powder to pass through a 150 British Standard mesh; a fourth step of adding a binder to said powder to produce a paste; a fifth step of drying said paste; a sixth step of sifting the dried paste through a first screen of 30 British Standard mesh onto a second screen of 60 British Standard mesh; a seventh step of loading the portion of the said dried paste retained by said second screen into a compaction press; an eighth step of operating said press to compact the said dried paste into a unitary body; and a ninth step of sintering said unitary body at a temperature in the range of 1400° C to 1600° C in a non-oxidizing atmosphere for at least 5 minutes.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
212 words
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor pellet, comprising a first step of forming a particulate mixture containing 50% to 70% by weight of silicon-carbide particles which pass through a 600 British Standard mesh, and 30% to 50% by weight of silica glass; a second step of heating said mixture to a temperature in the range of 1150° C to 1300° C for a period of at least half an hour in an oxidizing atmosphere; a third step of milling the product of said second step down to a powder to pass through a 150 British Standard mesh; a fourth step of adding a binder to said powder to produce a paste; a fifth step of drying said paste; a sixth step of sifting the dried paste through a first screen of 30 British Standard mesh onto a second screen of 60 British Standard mesh; a seventh step of loading the portion of the said dried paste retained by said second screen into a compaction press; an eighth step of operating said press to compact the said dried paste into a unitary body; and a ninth step of sintering said unitary body at a temperature in the range of 1400° C to 1600° C in a non-oxidizing atmosphere for at least 5 minutes.