Abstract: Silicon halides and silicon hydrohalides, such as SiCl.sub.4, SiBr.sub.4, and SiHCl.sub.3 react with alkali metal aluminum hydrides such as NaAlH.sub.4 and LiAlH.sub.4 in the presence of a hydrocarbon reaction medium; e.g., toluene, and a tetraalkyl ammonium salt, and in the substantial absence of an ether, to produce silane and a metal aluminum halide co-product which is not tightly complexed to an organic substance.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of silane and a tertiary amine alane, said process comprising reacting:(a) an alkali metal aluminum tetrahydride having the formula MAlH.sub.4, wherein M is an alkali metal selected from the class consisting of lithium, sodium and potassium,(b) silicon tetrachloride, and(c) a complexing tertiary amine, such that the molar proportion of (a) to (b) to (c) is about 4:1:4.In this process, NaAlH.sub.4 and triethylamine are preferred reactants. The amine alane product can be reacted with additional silicon halide to prepare additional silane. This step can be conducted utilizing amine alane in the reaction mixture produced by the process above, and is preferably conducted using SiF.sub.4 as the silicon tetrahalide to produce AlF.sub.3 as a co-product. Both AlF.sub.3 and silane are valuable articles of commerce.

Abstract: Undesirable conversion of a silicon source, such as silane, in the freeboard above a fluidized bed of silicon particles in a fluidized bed reactor, can be reduced by cooling the gas within the freeboard. Preferably, the reduction in temperature is achieved by introducing into the freeboard, a stream of relatively cool quench gas such as hydrogen, which also reduces the concentration of silane in the freeboard. As a result of these two factors, the invention improves the service factor of the fluidized bed apparatus, and reduces the amount of silane conversion to undesired by-products.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of silane and a tertiary amine alane, said process comprising reacting about equimolar amounts of:(a) an alkali metal aluminum tetrahydride having the formula MAlH.sub.4, wherein M is an alkali metal selected from the class consisting of lithium, sodium and potassium,(b) a hydrogen halide, and(c) a complexing tertiary amine.In this process, NaAlH.sub.4, HCl, and (C.sub.2 H.sub.5).sub.3 N are preferred reactants. The amine alane product can be reacted with a silicon halide to prepare silane.

Abstract: A reactor apparatus (10) adapted for continuously producing molten, solar grade purity elemental silicon by thermal reaction of a suitable precursor gas, such as silane (SiH.sub.4), is disclosed. The reactor apparatus (10) includes an elongated reactor body (32) having graphite or carbon walls which are heated to a temperature exceeding the melting temperature of silicon. The precursor gas enters the reactor body (32) through an efficiently cooled inlet tube assembly (22) and a relatively thin carbon or graphite septum (44). The septum (44), being in contact on one side with the cooled inlet (22) and the heated interior of the reactor (32) on the other side, provides a sharp temperature gradient for the precursor gas entering the reactor (32) and renders the operation of the inlet tube assembly (22) substantially free of clogging. The precursor gas flows in the reactor (32) in a substantially smooth, substantially axial manner.

Abstract: Amine alane decomposition is catalyzed by titanium. This effect of titanium can be suppressed by treating it with a passivating agent such as air, nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide and alkyl nitrites. Such agents may be used (1) to treat titanium-containing NaAlH.sub.4 preparations to be used in preparing amine alanes, or (2) to treat amine alanes containing titanium as an impurity, e.g. in finely divided form. Furthermore, the reaction of NaAlH.sub.4, amine, and a halide substance to produce an amine alane can be conducted in the presence of a passivating agent.

Abstract: A process for producing silane by reacting a silicon halide with highly reactive magnesium and a cyclic process for producing silane by reacting magnesium hydride with a silicon halide, reacting the magnesium halide as formed with an alkali metal to recover elemental magnesium, and pressure hydrogenating said magnesium to form magnesium hydride and repeat the cycle. A highly reactive magnesium hydride is formed by the homogeneously catalyzed pressure hydrogenation of magnesium, preferably using an activated transition metal catalyst such as TiCl.sub.4 and a polycyclic organic compound such as anthracene. The highly activated magnesium hydride is thereafter used for reaction with silicon halide to produce silane.

Abstract: Alkali metal aluminates, NaAlR'.sub.4, react with alkyl trihalosilanes, RSiX.sub.3, in accordance with the following equation:0.75 NaAlR'.sub.4 +RSiX.sub.3 .fwdarw.RSiR'.sub.3 +0.75 NaAlX.sub.4 (1)The process is conducted at elevated temperature. Products of the process are useful as functional fluids.

Abstract: Mixtures of silahydrocarbons which comprise a product RSiR'.sub.3, wherein R is an alkyl of 1-4 carbons, and R' is an alkyl of 8-14 carbons are produced by reacting a silicon tetrahalide, SiX.sub.4, a trialkylaluminum, R.sub.3 Al, and an alkali metal aluminate NaAlR'.sub.4. An alkali metal salt increases the relative amount of RSiR'.sub.3 in the product. The trialkylaluminum can be replaced with an olefin or with an organoaluminum sesquihalide.The products are useful as functional fluids.

Abstract: A gun-target apparatus and method for producing silicon seed particles from silicon feed particles comprising accelerating silicon feed particles from a container and propelling them into a silicon target in a target chamber. The target is movable within said chamber so that a different portion of the silicon target is exposed to the oncoming seeds. The seeds are accumulated in a receiver and separated from silicon dust and larger feed particles.

Abstract: Alkali metal aluminum tetraalkyls can alkylate tetraalkyl silicates and alkyltrialkoxysilanes, Si(OR).sub.4 and RSi(OR).sub.3, respectively. The product in each case is predominately the dialkylate. With tetraalkyl silicates, both of the alkyl groups bonded to silicon in the dialkylate product are derived from the metal tetraalkyl. With alkyltrialkoxysilanes, the silicon atom in the dialkylate product is (a) bonded to one alkyl group detained from the metal tetraalkyl, and (b) is also bonded to an alkyl group--that was bonded to silicon--in the silicon-containing starting material. Thus, the alkyl groups in the dialkylate product that are bonded to silicon can be alike or different. The dialkyldialkoxysilane products produced by this invention can be reduced to the corresponding silanes; e.g., R.sub.2 SiH.sub.2, by using an alkyl aluminum tetrahydride as the reducing agent. The dialkyldialkoxysilanes as well as the dialkylsilanes produced are useful as chemical intermediates.

Abstract: Silane and monoalkylsilanes can be alkylated using an alkali metal aluminate, MAlR.sub.4, wherein M is Li, Na, or K and each R is a straight chain, alkyl radical solely composed of carbon and hydrogen containing from about 4 to about 18 carbon atoms. The aluminate can be used as a reactant, optionally in the presence of a straight chain alpha-olefin corresponding to the alkyl group in the aluminate. Alternatively, the aluminate can be used as a catalyst for the reaction of the olefin and the silane reactant, in which case from about 5 to about 10 mole percent of the aluminate (based on the silane reactant) is employed. The catalytic reaction is promoted by a smaller amount of a lithium salt such as lithium chloride. Both embodiments are conducted at somewhat elevated temperatures, approximately 160.degree.-210.degree. C., and at autogenous pressures, using reaction times of 8-20 hours.The products are useful as functional fluids or as intermediates.

Abstract: A reactor apparatus (10) adapted for continuously producing molten, solar grade purity elemental silicon by thermal reaction of a suitable precursor gas, such as silane (SiH.sub.4), is disclosed. The reactor apparatus (10) includes an elongated reactor body (32) having graphite or carbon walls which are heated to a temperature exceeding the melting temperature of silicon. The precursor gas enters the reactor body (32) through an efficiently cooled inlet tube assembly (22) and a relatively thin carbon or graphite septum (44). The septum (44), being in contact on one side with the cooled inlet (22) and the heated interior of the reactor (32) on the other side, provides a sharp temperature gradient for the precursor gas entering the reactor (32) and renders the operation of the inlet tube assembly (22) substantially free of clogging. The precursor gas flows in the reactor (32) in a substantially smooth, substantially axial manner.

Abstract: A process for producing complexes of alane and tertiary amines. Sodium aluminum tetrahydride is reacted with sodium aluminum tetrachloride in the presence of a tertiary amine in an aromatic hydrocarbon reaction medium that is not a solvent for either of the reactants. The tertiary amine alane reaction products are typically soluble in the hydrocarbon reaction medium and readily recoverable.

Abstract: A process for the production of high purity silane by reacting silicon tetrafluoride exclusively with sodium aluminum tetrahydride, potassium aluminum tetrahydride, or a mixture of sodium aluminum tetrahydride and potassium aluminum tetrahydride, preferably in an inert liquid reaction medium comprising an ether. The inventive process is a highly advantageous and economical route to silane since it also produces valuable fluoride salt.

Abstract: Engine fuel economy is improved by including in the crankcase oil a friction-reducing amount of an N-aliphatic hydrocarbyl hydroxyalkylsulfinylsuccinimide or N-aliphatic hydrocarbyl hydroxyalkylsulfonylsuccinimide. The additives can also be added to the engine fuel.

Abstract: Fuel consumption of an internal combustion engine being operated on a normally liquid hydrocarbon fuel of the gasoline boiling range is reduced by the addition to the fuel of a friction-reducing amount of a sulfurized fatty acid amide, ester or ester-amide of an oxyalkylated amine.

Abstract: Friction of internal combustion engines is reduced by using a lubricating oil or fuel containing an alkoxylated hydrocarbyl amine, e.g. N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)oleylamine.

Abstract: An anti-wear compression ignition fuel composition for use in diesel engines comprising (1) from about 70 percent by weight to about 98.45 percent by weight of a monohydroxy alkanol having from 1-5 carbon atoms, (2) from about 1 percent by weight to about 25 percent by weight of a fuel oil boiling above the gasoline boiling range, and (3) a wear inhibiting amount of a dimerized unsaturated fatty acid. Optionally, said fuel composition may also contain an ignition accelerator such as an organic nitrate.

Abstract: Friction of internal combustion engines is reduced by using a crankcase motor oil containing the combination of graphite and a di-lower alkyl hydrocarbyl phosphonate, e.g. dimethyloctadecylphosphonate.