Abstract: A method and system for producing an aluminum-silicon alloy are provided and include preheating silica to a predetermined temperature and combining aluminum with the preheated silica to melt the aluminum and produce an aluminum-silicon alloy.

Abstract: A method and system for producing an aluminum-silicon alloy are provided and include preheating silica to a predetermined temperature and combining aluminum with the preheated silica to melt the aluminum and produce an aluminum-silicon alloy.

Abstract: A method for refining aluminum-containing silicon is provided and includes heating an aluminum-containing silicon to form a molten aluminum-containing silicon, adding a source of calcium selected from the group consisting of calcium, calcium oxide, and calcium carbonate, and, optionally silica to the aluminum-containing silicon; and exposing the molten aluminum-containing silicon to oxygen to produce a refined silicon and a by-product slag such that the refined silicon contains an amount of aluminum less than the amount of aluminum in the aluminum-containing silicon.

Abstract: Chemical grade silicon metalloid having improved performance in the direct process for making organohalosilanes is selected by (A) measuring the temperature of each batch of silicon metalloid during both the refining and the casting of the silicon metalloid; (B) measuring the elemental impurity levels in each batch of the silicon metalloid after refining of the silicon metalloid; (C) predicting the properties of the slag phase produced during refining of the silicon metalloid based on equilibrium calculations using the elemental impurity levels and the measured temperatures of each batch of silicon metalloid; and (D) selecting a chemical grade silicon metalloid for use in the direct process for making organohalosilanes based upon the predicted slag properties; such that the slag density, the viscosity, and the melting point of the slag, are within acceptable and predetermined ranges for each individual batch.

Abstract: Chemical grade silicon metalloid having improved performance in the direct process for making organohalosilanes is selected by (A) measuring the temperature of each batch of silicon metalloid during both the refing and the casting of the silicon metalloid; (B) measuring the elemental impurity levels in each batch of the silicon metalloid after refining of the silicon metalloid; (C) predicting the properties of the slag phase produced during refining of the silicon metalloid, based on equilibrium calculations, using the elemental impurity levels and the measured temperatures of each batch of silicon metalloid; and (D) selecting a chemical grade silicon metalloid for use in the direct process for making organohalsilanes, based upon the predicted slag properties; such that the slag density, the viscosity, and the melting point of the slag, are within acceptable and predetermined ranges for each individual batch.