Patents by Inventor Theodore P. Kircher

Theodore P. Kircher has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9139932
    Abstract: There is provided a quartz glass article having a surface treated with novel coating materials which provides a reduced chemistry, wherein the quartz glass surface having a reduced chemistry upon exposure to melted silicon or similarly corrosive environments, forms crystalline structures covering at least 30% of the coated surface of the quartz glass crucible. Said crystalline covered surface provides a more stable surface of contact with the silicon melt and the growth of single crystal silicon. In one embodiment of the invention, the coating material comprises at least a methyl group for providing at least one of a hydrogenated and a methylated surface on the coated surface, forming rosette structures, or other crystalline morphologies covering at last 80% of the coated surface. In another embodiment of the invention, the coating material is selected from at least one of an amine, an organosilane halogen and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Inventors: Richard Lee Hansen, Theodore P. Kircher, Narsi Devanathan
  • Patent number: 7452518
    Abstract: A process for producing a synthetic quartz glass powder which is substantially free of carbon contaminant, for reduced bubble density and improved stability of articles made from the synthetic quartz glass during fusion molding by maintaining the synthetic silica powder in an oxidizing environment, e.g., an atmosphere comprising at least 3 vol. % ozone at a temperature of less than 1400° C., causing carbon containing compounds to be reduced to less than 10 ppm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Momentive Performance Materials Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L. Hansen, Theodore P. Kircher, Douglas M. Korwin
  • Publication number: 20080092804
    Abstract: There is provided a quartz glass article having a surface treated with novel coating materials which provides a reduced chemistry, wherein the quartz glass surface having a reduced chemistry upon exposure to melted silicon or similarly corrosive environments, forms crystalline structures covering at least 30% of the coated surface of the quartz glass crucible. Said crystalline covered surface provides a more stable surface of contact with the silicon melt and the growth of single crystal silicon. In one embodiment of the invention, the coating material comprises at least a methyl group for providing at least one of a hydrogenated and a methylated surface on the coated surface, forming rosette structures, or other crystalline morphologies covering at last 80% of the coated surface. In another embodiment of the invention, the coating material is selected from at least one of an amine, an organosilane halogen and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Richard Lee Hansen, Theodore P. Kircher, Narsi Devanathan