US4040849A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Polycrystalline silicon articles by sintering
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1976-01-06
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Granted: 1977-08-09
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Expires: 1996-01-06
Abstract
Abstract A polycrystalline silicon body is produced by shaping silicon powder having an average particle size less than 0.2 micron into a green body and sintering the body to a density of at least 60% of the theoretical density of silicon.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles D. Greskovich
- 👤 Joseph H. Rosolowski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 11:49
CPC Classifications
C; C04; C04B; C04B35/00; C04B35/515; C04B35/58; C04B35/584; C04B35/591; H; H10; H10W; H10W70/00; H10W70/60; H10W70/67; H10W70/69; H10W70/698
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A process for producing a polycrystalline sintered body of silicon which comprises shaping silicon powder having an average particle size less than 0.1 micron into a green body having a density of at least 30% of the theoretical density of silicon, said powder having a structure ranging from amorphous to crystalline, and sintering the green body at a temperature ranging from 1250° C. to a temperature below the melting point of silicon in an atmosphere which has no significant deteriorating effect on the green body or the resulted sintered body to produce a sintered body having a density of at least 60% of the theoretical density of silicon, said sintering densifying said green body in an amount of at least 2%.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
A process for producing a polycrystalline sintered body of silicon which comprises shaping silicon powder having an average particle size less than 0.1 micron into a green body having a density of at least 30% of the theoretical density of silicon, said powder having a structure ranging from amorphous to crystalline, and sintering the green body at a temperature ranging from 1250° C. to a temperature below the melting point of silicon in an atmosphere which has no significant deteriorating effect on the green body or the resulted sintered body to produce a sintered body having a density of at least 60% of the theoretical density of silicon, said sintering densifying said green body in an amount of at least 2%.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
111 words
A process for producing a polycrystalline sintered body of silicon which comprises shaping silicon powder having an average particle size less than 0.2 micron into a green body having a density of at least 40% of the theoretical density of silicon, and sintering the green body at a temperature ranging from 1250° C. to a temperature below the melting point of silicon in an atmosphere which has no significant deteriorating effect on the green body or the resulting sintered body to produce a sintered body having a density of at least 60% of the theoretical density of silicon, said sintering densifying said green body in an amount of at least 2%.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
111 words
A process for producing a polycrystalline sintered body of silicon which comprises shaping silicon powder having an average particle size less than 0.2 micron into a green body having a density of at least 40% of the theoretical density of silicon, and sintering the green body at a temperature ranging from 1250° C. to a temperature below the melting point of silicon in an atmosphere which has no significant deteriorating effect on the green body or the resulting sintered body to produce a sintered body having a density of at least 60% of the theoretical density of silicon, said sintering densifying said green body in an amount of at least 2%.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A process for producing a polycrystalline sintered body of silicon according to claim 2 wherein said silicon powder has an average particle size less than 0.1 micron and said sintering temperature ranges from 1300° C. to 1400° C.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A process for producing a polycrystalline sintered body of silicon according to claim 2 wherein said silicon powder has an average particle size ranging from 0.1 to less than 0.2 micron and said sintering temperature ranges from about 1350° C. to below the melting point of the silicon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
A polycrystalline densified sintered body consisting essentially of silicon having a density of at least 60% of the theoretical density of silicon, said sintered body having an average grain size and an average pore size of about one micron or smaller, said silicon grains and pores being of significantly uniform size and being distributed significantly uniformly throughout said body, said silicon grains being substantially equiaxed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
A polycrystalline densified sintered body consisting essentially of silicon having a density of at least 60% of the theoretical density of silicon, said sintered body having an average grain size and an average pore size of about one micron or smaller, said silicon grains and pores being of significantly uniform size and being distributed significantly uniformly throughout said body, said silicon grains being substantially equiaxed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A polycrystalline sintered body of silicon according to claim 5 wherein said density ranges from 60% to about 75% of the theoretical density of silicon and wherein at least a major portion of the pores are interconnecting.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A polycrystalline sintered body of silicon according to claim 5 wherein the density is at least 92% of the theoretical density of silicon and wherein all or substantially all of the residual pores are closed pores.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
68 words
A polycrystalline densified sintered body consisting essentially of silicon having a density ranging from 60% to 75% of the theoretical density of silicon, said sintered body having an average silicon grain size and an average pore size ranging from 1 micron to 6 microns, said silicon grains and pores being of significantly uniform size and being distributed significantly uniformly throughout said body, said silicon grains being substantially equiaxed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
68 words
A polycrystalline densified sintered body consisting essentially of silicon having a density ranging from 60% to 75% of the theoretical density of silicon, said sintered body having an average silicon grain size and an average pore size ranging from 1 micron to 6 microns, said silicon grains and pores being of significantly uniform size and being distributed significantly uniformly throughout said body, said silicon grains being substantially equiaxed.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-08-08 | 1981-02-07 | 1981-08-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-08 | 1985-02-07 | 1985-08-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-08 | 1989-02-07 | 1989-08-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |