Abstract: The invention concerns a silicon designed in particular for making solar cells containing a total of impurities ranging between 100 and 400 ppm, a boron content ranging between 0.5 and 3 ppm, a phosphorus/boron content ratio ranging between 1 and 3, and a content of metal elements ranging between 30 and 300 ppm. The invention also concerns a method for making such a silicon from an oxygen- or chorine-refined metallurgical silicon containing at least 500 ppm of metal elements, and comprising: refusion under neutral atmosphere of the refined silicon, in an electric furnace equipped with a hot crucible; transferring the molten silicon, to provide a plasma refining, in an electric furnace equipped with a hot crucible; plasma refining with as plasma-forming gas a mixture of argon and of at least a gas belonging the group consisting of chlorine, fluorine, HCI and HF; casting under controlled atmosphere in an ingot mold wherein is produced segregated solidification.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a silicon refining installation, having a cold sectorized induction crucible, having its internal wall lined with a refractory material.

Abstract: A method for preparing Al—Si alloys by introducing into the molten aluminum, at a temperature of between 700 and 850° C., metallurgical silicon particles having a granulometry of less than 10 mm. The silicon particles, upon reaching the temperature of the molten aluminum, have the property of fragmenting into smaller particles.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for assembling a composite, self-baking electrode for electric arc furnaces. The electrode includes an outer metal ferrule, a central column of prebaked carbon or graphite sections assembled by nipples. New sections are added to the column from carbon paste placed between the ferrule and the central column. The assembling system principally includes a support that is vertically mobile over a length greater than the length of each of the sections. The support suspends the central column. A device is provided for temporarily blocking the column and a clamping device applies a preset torque to a newly added section while the blocking device temporarily blocks the column from movement thereby screwing the newly added section to an adjacently positioned section of the column.