Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A process for manufacturing a pure polycrystalline garnet, which process consists essentially of the following steps: (1) a solution consisting essentially of the salts of the constituent cations of the garnet is prepared in accordance with the process comprising the following steps: (a) the oxides of the constituent cations of the garnet are calcined; (b) the amounts of oxides fixed by the formula of the garnet are weighed; (c) each oxide is dissolved in an acid; and (d) the resulting solutions of salts are mixed; (2) the corresponding hydroxides are co-precipitated by addition of a base to the solution in order to obtain a co-hydroxide; (3) the co-hydroxide is filtered off; (4) the co-hydroxide is washed; (5) the co-hydroxide is dried; and (6) the co-hydroxide is then subjected to a single calcination at a temperature of between about 800° C. and 1500° C. until completely reacted, whereby said pure polycrystalline garnet is produced, said garnet consisting essentially of the constituent cations from the solution and oxygen.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
A process for manufacturing a pure polycrystalline garnet, which process consists essentially of the following steps: (1) a solution consisting essentially of the salts of the constituent cations of the garnet is prepared in accordance with the process comprising the following steps: (a) the oxides of the constituent cations of the garnet are calcined; (b) the amounts of oxides fixed by the formula of the garnet are weighed; (c) each oxide is dissolved in an acid; and (d) the resulting solutions of salts are mixed; (2) the corresponding hydroxides are co-precipitated by addition of a base to the solution in order to obtain a co-hydroxide; (3) the co-hydroxide is filtered off; (4) the co-hydroxide is washed; (5) the co-hydroxide is dried; and (6) the co-hydroxide is then subjected to a single calcination at a temperature of between about 800° C. and 1500° C. until completely reacted, whereby said pure polycrystalline garnet is produced, said garnet consisting essentially of the constituent cations from the solution and oxygen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the co-hydroxide subsequent to step (2) is permitted to age before filtering it off in step (3).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process according to claim 2, wherein the aging is carried out for about 1 to 20 hours.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein, in step (1), the salts are chosen from among the group consisting of nitrates, chlorides, sulphates, formates, acetates, and perchlorates.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein, in step 1(c), the acid is a strong acid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the oxides are dissolved simultaneously in a strong acid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the acid is chosen from among the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, sulphuric acid, and perchloric acid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 7, wherein the dissolution is carried out with pure concentrated acid at the boiling point.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein, in step (2), the base is a weak base which is chosen from among the group consisting of ammonia, urea, hexamethylenetetramine and ammonium carbamate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein, in step (2), the concentration of the base is above about 5 N.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein, in step (3), the co-hydroxide is filtered off under pressure or in vacuo, the filtering element used preferably having a pore size of about 1 to 5 microns.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein, in step (4), the co-hydroxide is washed with water until the wash waters obtained have a pH in the region of neutrality.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein, in step (5), the co-hydroxide is dried in air or in vacuo at a temperature between about 100° C. and 200° C. for about 10 to 48 hours.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein, in step (6), the co-hydroxide is calcined for about 1 to 30 hours.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
A polycrystalline garnet obtained in accordance with the process of any one of the preceding claims, wherein it consists of crystals, the elementary dimensions of which are of the order of a few microns, and which are agglomerated to give a compact assembly.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
A monocrystal obtained by a drawing process from the polycrystalline garnet manufactured in accordance with the process of claim 1 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
A monocrystal according to claim 16 wherein the drawing process is a Czochralski drawing process.