Abstract: A process for the manufacture of shaped bodies from silicon granulates for producing silicon melts includes first incipiently melting silicon grains on their surfaces, so that they bond with their neighbors in the process and, after solidifying, form a porous compound shaped body which only then may be melted completely. Such compound shaped bodies can be manufactured continuously or semi-continuously and converted without difficulty by a subsequent step into the molten state. An apparatus for producing shaped bodies is also provided which preferably employs an electron beam, to supply energy to incipiently melt the granulate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and apparatus for manufacturing silicon astings or moldings, having a columnar structure of single-crystal regions of crystal with a preferential crystallographic orientation, and which can be manufactured cheaply and in large numbers in a semi-continuous mode of production. Liquid silicon is cast in a casting station, under an inert gas and preferably under reduced pressure, preferably in graphite molds which are exposed to a temperature gradient of 200.degree. to 1,000.degree. C. After cooling, the silicon is withdrawn automatically via a transport chamber connected to the casting station into special cooling stations, while the casting station is reloaded with an empty mold for repeating the process. The silicon blocks which have preferably been produced by this procedure are use as basic material for inexpensive solar cells having efficiencies of more than 10%, after they have been sawn into individual small wafers and have been doped and lead-bonded.