Abstract: There is disclosed a self-centering template useful for centering cylindrical bodies on their axes in rotating machines such as a concentric grinder. The centering templates of the invention are generically cup-shaped plates, having an end disc with a dependent, preferably integral, cylindrical wall. The disc has a central aperture which is intersected by a radial slot extending from the periphery of the disc. The inside surface of the annular wall is tapered from a maximum thickness adjacent the disc. In use, templates are placed over the opposite ends of a cropped silicon ingot and the resultant assembly is mounted in the concentric grinding machine, with the central aperture of the template disc guiding the head stock and tail stock chuck into centric engagement with the ends of the ingot. After the ingot is clamped in the machine, the templates are removed by passing the radial slots of the templates past the machine shafts.

Abstract: There is disclosed a static mixer for intimate mixing of granular solids, a solids flow controller and a solids transfer tube which are useful to mix polycrystalline material with dopant solids, and to feed the resultant mixture continuously and accurately into a modified Czochralski-type furnace for growing single crystal material. The static mixer is a series of conical funnel plates interspaced by thieving divider plates that are formed by a plurality of triangular V-shaped, radial sectors. Contiguous to the static mixer is a storage hopper which has sufficient storage capacity for all the polycrystalline feed material required in a single run of the furnace. Located beneath the hopper is a solids flow controller that is a V-shaped trough which is vibrated along its longitudinal axis. At one end, the trough has a transverse baffle located with a gap between its bottom edge and the bottom of the trough that controls the rate of flow of the solids.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for growing single crystal material, particularly silicon, in modified Czochralski process furnaces and chambers. The Czochralski process equipment is modified to permit continuous addition of polycrystalline material, preferably in dry powdered form to a molten bath of the material that is maintained at a constant shallow depth. For this purpose, a circular baffle is placed within the crucible containing the molten bath of the material, dividing the crucible into an annular feed zone and a central crystal growth zone. A cylindrical boule is withdrawn from the central crystal growth zone. The surrounding walls of the crucible, and graphite cup that supports the crucible, provide a heating and annealing zone in which the boule is continuously annealed as it is withdrawn from the molten pool. Dopants are also introduced into the annular feed zone, either separately or admixed with the polycrystalline material.

Abstract: There is disclosed a redistribution catalyst which is the reaction product of a quaternary ammonium halide salt or tertiary amine, and an inorganic carrier having surface hydroxyl groups, such as silica, zeolite, clays, and silicone resins. The catalyst is useful for the redistribution of chlorosilicon hydrides to dichlorosilane and silane at reaction conditions of a temperature from 0.degree. to about 200.degree. C., and a pressure from about 0.1 to 10 atmospheres, in liquid or vapor phase.

Abstract: There is disclosed a redistribution catalyst which is the reaction product of a quaternary ammonium halide salt or tertiary amine, and an inorganic carrier having surface hydroxyl groups, such as silica, zeolite, clays, and silicone resins. The catalyst is useful for the disproportionation of chlorosilicon hydrides to dichlorosilane and silane at reaction conditions including a temperature from 0.degree. to 200.degree. C., in liquid or vapor phase with a pressure from 0.1 to 10 atmospheres.

Abstract: This invention relates to improvements in catalysts formed by spray drying water slurries of a faujasite type zeolite of relatively low sodium content in a matrix, containing pseudoboehmite and added anionically derived alumina gel.