Abstract: A vertical rapid heating furnace for treating semiconductor wafers comprising a hot wall reaction tube positioned within a cylindrical array of circular parallel heating elements substantially concentric therewith, each heating element being spaced from the hot wall reaction tube, each heating element comprising a coil of resistance heating conductor. The coiled resistance heating conductor can be a coil of resistance heating wire, the coil having an outer diameter of from 1 to 7 mm and supported in an annular heating element support. Each heating element support is dimensioned to support and accommodate the thermally expanded heating element supported therein at both the minimum and maximum furnace temperatures. Preferably, each annular heating element support is provided by an annular recess in the insulation surrounding the array of heating elements.

Abstract: Thermal treatment boat comprising a cylinder having a central axis and a plurality of band slots having opposed upper and lower surfaces in planes perpendicular to said central axis and spaced at predetermined locations along said central axis. At least one slot in each set extends around at least 180.degree. and less than of the full circumference of said cylinder. Pairs of adjacent band slots define an annular band therebetween. The height of each slot being from about 3.8 to 12.7 mm. Each of the bands having a height, Height.sub.Band, in mm, according to the equation: ##EQU1## wherein Height.sub.Band is always .ltoreq. wafer thickness; ColumnHeight is the total height of the cylinder, mm; BandSlotHeight is the height of the slot, mm; and NumberBands is the total number of bands in the treatment boat. The cylinder can include a wafer loading effector slot therethrough in a plane of the central axis extending along the length of the cylinder.