Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a method of coating at least one wafer with silicon nitride. The first step in the method is assembling at least one electrode set, wherein each electrode set includes at least one dielectric barrier between a top electrode and a bottom electrode. The second step is flowing at least one purge gas and at least one reactant at least partially between the electrodes, of at least one electrode set, substantially at atmospheric pressure. The next step in the inventive method is placing a wafer between the electrodes of at least one electrode set, wherein the wafer is substantially encompassed by the flowing gas. The last step in this embodiment of the inventive method is supplying AC power to at least one electrode set thereby causing a dielectric barrier discharge.

Abstract: A method for preparing a release coating and applying it to crucibles used to contain molten material while it solidifies, by mixing a release coating power with a dry organic binder into a powder and binder dry mixture, mixing a defoamer with a liquid into a liquid and defoamer mixture, mixing the dry mixture with the liquid and defoamer mixture into a wet release coating, sieving to remove lumps and particles, checking the viscosity, wet-spraying onto a crucible, evaporating the liquid from the wet release coating so as to leave a dry release coating on the crucible, and separating the binder from the dry release coating by thermal decomposition.

Abstract: A method for preparing a release coating and applying it to crucibles used to contain molten material while it solidifies, by mixing a release coating power with a dry organic binder into a powder and binder dry mixture, mixing a defoamer with a liquid into a liquid and defoamer mixture, mixing the dry mixture with the liquid and defoamer mixture into a wet release coating, sieving to remove lumps and particles, checking the viscosity, wet-spraying onto a crucible, evaporating the liquid from the wet release coating so as to leave a dry release coating on the crucible, and separating the binder from the dry release coating by thermal decomposition.

Abstract: A method for preparing a release coating and applying it to crucibles used to contain molten material while it solidifies, such as in the directional solidification of polycrystalline silicon into ingots, by mixing a release coating power with a dry organic binder into a powder and binder dry mixture, mixing a defoamer with a liquid into a liquid and defoamer mixture, mixing the dry mixture with the liquid and defoamer mixture into a wet release coating, sieving to remove lumps and particles, checking the viscosity, wet-spraying onto a crucible at about room temperature, evaporating the liquid from the wet release coating so as to leave a dry release coating on the crucible, and separating the binder from the dry release coating by thermal decomposition.