Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
A process for the production of ultrafine metal silicide-containing powders comprising the steps of: (a) supplying gas phase reactants comprising a metal halide and a silicon-containing compound to a reaction site, the ratio of metal halide to silicon-containing compound being less than about 1:2 to about 1:4; and (b) exposing the gases at the reaction site to high intensity light to produce ultrafine powder comprising at least about 50 weight percent metal silicide and at least about 5 weight percent free silicon.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
82 words
A process for the production of ultrafine metal silicide-containing powders comprising the steps of: (a) supplying gas phase reactants comprising a metal halide and a silicon-containing compound to a reaction site, the ratio of metal halide to silicon-containing compound being less than about 1:2 to about 1:4; and (b) exposing the gases at the reaction site to high intensity light to produce ultrafine powder comprising at least about 50 weight percent metal silicide and at least about 5 weight percent free silicon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein the metal halide is selected from the group consisting of molybdenum halide, tantalium halide, titanium halide and tungsten halide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process of claim 1 wherein the metal halide is a metal chloride or a metal flouride.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process as in claim 2 wherein the silicon containing compound is selected from the group consisting of Si x H 2x+2 .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
A process as in claim 3 wherein the gas is SiH 4 .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein the light has an intensity of at least about 10 watts/cm 2 .
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process as in claim 6 wherein the high intensity light is produced by a CO 2 laser.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process as in claim 6 wherein the step of supplying gas phase reactants includes regulating the supply to produce a total reaction chamber pressure of at least about 200 torr.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein the supply of reactant gas is regulated to produce ultrafine powder which comprises free silicon in the range of about 5 to about 50 weight percent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process as in claim 9 wherein the supplying and exposing steps are controlled to produce generally spherical powder particles having diameters less than or equal to about 500 Å.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as in claim 9 wherein the metal silicide has a stoiciometrically unbalanced composition.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process as in claim 9 wherein the supply of reactant gases is regulated to produce free silicon in the range of about 35 to about 45 weight percent.