Abstract: A polycrystalline silicon column is provided. The polycrystalline silicon column includes a plurality of silicon grains grown along a crystal-growing direction. In the crystal-growing direction, the average grain size of the silicon grains and the resistivity of the polycrystalline silicon column have opposite variation in their trends, the average grain size of the silicon grains and the oxygen content of the polycrystalline silicon column have opposite variation in their trends, and the average grain size of the silicon grains and the defect area ratio of the polycrystalline silicon column have the same variation in their trends. The overall average defect area ratio of the polycrystalline silicon column is less than or equal to 2.5%.

Abstract: Casting polycrystalline silicon includes placing a bottomless cooling crucible divided at least partially in the axis direction into a plurality of parts in the peripheral direction and having an inner surface coated with a release agent containing nitrogen, in an induction coil of a chamber charged with an inert gas; melting a raw material of polycrystalline silicon in the bottomless cooling crucible by electromagnetic induction heating using the induction coil; and pulling out the molten silicon downward while cooling and solidifying it. Pullout of the solidified molten silicon is performed through adjusting the carbon concentration of the molten silicon to 4.0×1017 atoms/cm3 or more to 6.0×1017 atoms/cm3 or less, the oxygen concentration thereof to 0.3×1017 atoms/cm3 or more to 5.0×1017 atoms/cm3 or less, and the nitrogen concentration to 8.0×1013 atoms/cm3 or more to 1.0×1018 atoms/cm3 or less.

Abstract: A method for producing a silica container having a rotational symmetry is provided. The method includes forming a preliminarily molded article by feeding a powdered substrate's raw material to an inner wall of an outer frame having aspiration holes with rotating the frame, and forming a silica substrate. The preliminarily molded article is aspirated from an outer peripheral side with controlling a humidity inside the outer frame by ventilating gases present in the outer frame with charging from inside the preliminarily molded article a gas mixture comprised of an O2 gas and an inert gas and made below a prescribed dew-point temperature by dehumidification, and at the same time heated from inside the preliminarily molded article by a discharge-heat melting method with carbon electrodes, thereby making an outer peripheral part of the preliminarily molded article to a sintered body while an inner peripheral part to a fused glass body.

Abstract: A method of forming fused quartz glass is provided. The method includes the steps of: (a) providing a starting body made of fused quartz glass; (b) positioning the fused quartz glass starting body on a base plate; (c) inserting a first insert device into an interior cavity of the starting body to form an assembled structure; (d) heating the assembled structure to a predetermined temperature at which the fused quartz glass has a viscosity in a range of 105 to 1013 poise; and (e) deforming the fused quartz glass of the starting body at the predetermined temperature or in the viscosity range of 105 to 1013 poise around the first insert device to change a shape of the starting body. A method for making a large fused quartz glass vessel and a forming assembly for forming fused quartz glass are also provided.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a glass composition and articles made from the composition that are both polarizing and photorefractive. The glass has, for example, a composition consisting essentially of, in weight percent (“wt. %”) of 70-73 SiO2, 13-17% B2O3, 8-10% Na2O, 2-4% Al2O3, 0.005-0.1% CuO, <0.4% Cl, 0.1-0.5% Ag, 0.1-0.3% Br. In another embodiment the composition consists essentially of 70-77% SiO2, 13-18% B2O3, 8-10% Na2O, 2-4% Al2O3, 0.005-0.1% CuO, <0.4% Cl, 0.1-0.5% Ag, 0.1-0.3% Br. The glass can be used make articles or elements that can exhibits both the photorefractive effect and the polarizing effect within a single element or article, and can be used to make a variety of optical elements including Bragg gratings, filtering elements, and beam shaping elements and light collection elements for use in display, security, defense, metrology, imaging and communications applications.

Abstract: Hollow ingots of transparent synthetic vitreous silica glass of external diameter greater than 400 mm and internal diameter greater than 300 mm are disclosed. The ingots are substantially free from bubbles or inclusions greater than 100 ?m in diameter, have no more than 100 ppB of any individual metallic impurity, and have chlorine concentration less than 5 ppM. Also disclosed are methods for producing such ingots, in which a porous soot body of density greater than 0.4 g/cm3 is deposited on an oxidation resistant mandrel. The soot body is dehydrated on a mandrel comprising graphite, carbon fibre reinforced carbon, silicon carbide, silicon impregnated silicon carbide, silicon carbide-coated graphite or vitreous silica, either under vacuum or in the presence of a reducing gas, and then sintered to transparent pore-free glass under vacuum or in an atmosphere of helium.

Abstract: Provided is the method for producing, by heat treating raw material powder, a lithium ion secondary battery positive electrode material which contains an olivine-structure crystal represented by general formula LiMxFe1-xPO4 (where 0?x<1 and M is at least one type selected from Nb, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co and Ni), wherein the raw material powder contains trivalent iron compound. The present invention allows for stably producing at reduced cost a lithium ion secondary battery positive electrode material which contains olivine-type LiMxFe1-xPO4 crystal.

Abstract: Disclosed are processes for preparing conductive glass-ceramic membranes and methods of using them in hydrogen or proton separation.

Abstract: A directional solidification furnace includes a crucible for holding molten silicon and a lid covering the crucible and forming an enclosure over the molten silicon. The crucible also includes an inlet in the lid for introducing inert gas above the molten silicon to inhibit contamination of the molten silicon.

Abstract: Discloses are processes for preparing conductive glass-ceramics employ segregation or ion exchange.

Abstract: A method for producing a silica container, the method including forming a preliminarily molded silica substrate to an intended shape by feeding a powdered substrate's raw material (silica particles) to an inner wall of a carbon-made outer frame having aspiration holes with rotating the outer frame, and forming the silica substrate wherein the preliminarily molded substrate is degassed by aspiration from its outer peripheral side with charging from an inner peripheral side of the preliminarily molded silica substrate a reducing gas containing more than 10% by volume of an H2 gas, and at the same time heated from inside the preliminarily molded silica substrate by a discharge-heat melting method with carbon electrodes, thereby making an outer peripheral part of the preliminarily molded silica substrate to a sintered body while an inner peripheral part of the preliminarily molded silica substrate to a fused glass body.

Abstract: A method for producing a silica container that includes forming a powder mixture by adding an Al compound or a crystal nucleating agent into a first powdered raw material (silica particles), preliminarily molding to an intended shape by feeding the powder mixture to an inner wall of an outer frame while rotating the outer frame having aspiration holes, forming a silica substrate, wherein the preliminarily molded article is degassed by aspiration from a peripheral side and at the same time heated from inside the preliminarily molded article at high temperature thereby making a peripheral part of the preliminarily molded article to a sintered body while an inner part to a fused glass body, and forming a transparent silica glass layer on an inner surface of the silica substrate, wherein a second powdered raw material having a higher silica purity than the first powdered raw material is spread from inside the silica substrate and at the same time heated from the inside at high temperature.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a synthetic opaque quartz glass where flame processing can be performed in high purity with a simple way and even a large sized one can be produced, and the synthetic opaque quartz glass. A method for producing a synthetic opaque quartz glass which comprises the step of heating and burning a quartz glass porous body under a pressure of from 0.15 MPa to 1000 MPa at a temperature of from 1200° C. to 2000° C. The quartz glass porous body is prepared by depositing quartz glass particles which are produced by hydrolyzing a silicon compound with an oxyhydrogen flame.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a process for manufacturing red glass containing copper that comprises the steps consisting in: obtaining a mass of colorless molten glass, free of sulfides, the iron oxide weight content of which is between 0.01 and 0.15%; then conveying said mass of molten glass in a feeder channel, in which copper oxide and tin oxide are added to said mass of molten glass, the partial pressure of oxygen in said mass of molten glass being between 10?7 and 10?4; then forming glass objects, especially bottles or flasks from said mass of molten glass; then subjecting said glass objects to a heat treatment so as to develop a red tint.

Abstract: Provided are a process for the production of a precision press-molded article having a high transmittance and a method of treating a glass to color or decolor the glass, the process comprising heat-treating a press-molded article containing at least one selected from WO3, Nb2O5 or TiO2 in an oxidizing atmosphere to produce a glass molded article, and the method comprising heat-treating a colored glass containing at least one oxide of WO3 and Nb2O5 in an oxidizing atmosphere to decolor the glass, or heat-treating a glass containing at least one oxide selected from WO3, Nb2O5 or TiO2 in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to color the glass.

Abstract: To provide a process for producing CeO2 fine particles having high crystallinity, being excellent in uniformity of composition and particle size and having a small particle size, and a polishing slurry containing such fine particles. A process for producing CeO2 fine particles, which comprises a step of obtaining a melt containing, as represented by mol % based on oxides, from 5 to 50% of CeO2, from 10 to 50% of RO (wherein R is at least one member selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba) and from 30 to 75% of B2O3, a step of quenching the melt to obtain an amorphous material, a step of precipitating CeO2 crystals from the amorphous material, and a step of separating the CeO2 crystals from the obtained crystallized product, in this order. A polishing slurry containing from 0.1 to 20 mass % of such fine particles.

Abstract: Polarizing glass articles and methods of manufacturing polarizing glass articles are disclosed. The method involves forming a polarizing layer on the surface of the glass article by ion-exchanging silver or copper into the surface.

Abstract: A method for making a polarizing glass article is provided. The method includes first providing a precursor glass containing metal-halide particles. The precursor glass may be encased in a gas-permeable medium. Then, form at least a first polarizing layer and a non-polarizing region in the precursor glass. Bond the polarizing layer to a substrate and removing the non-polarizing region to expose the polarizing layer. Then, separate the first polarizing layer from the substrate to produce an ultra-thin polarizing glass article measuring less than or equal to about 200 ?m in thickness. The method may further comprise cutting the polarizing layer into wafers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing UV polarizers, according to which spheroid particles situated near the surface of the glass are incorporated into the support material (primarily standard float glass) in a novel arrangement. According to the method for producing UV polarizers, after the introduction of metal ions (e.g., silver ions) into the glass surface, a large size distribution of particles is achieved by multiple alternation of a heat treatment for separating out spherical metal particles, followed by the renewed introduction of metal ions and a subsequent heat treatment. A deformation of the glass produces spheroid particles of various sizes and different semi-axis relationships. The particles are characterized by their large size distribution and are deformed differently in relation to their spheroid shape. In this way UV polarizers are produced which have a wide absorption range since the absorption bands having different maximum positions overlap.

Abstract: Known is a method of producing a quartz glass crucible in which a crucible base body is provided at least in part with an inner layer in which the formation of cristobalite is induced by using a crystallization promoter. On the basis thereof, in order to provide an inexpensive method of producing a quartz glass crucible with reproducible characteristics for long service lives, it is suggested according to the invention that the crystallization promoter and a reducing substance are introduced into the inner layer.

Abstract: Known is a method of producing a quartz glass crucible in which a crucible base body is provided at least in part with an inner layer in which the formation of cristobalite is induced by using a crystallization promoter. On the basis thereof, in order to provide an inexpensive method of producing a quartz glass crucible with reproducible characteristics for long service lives, it is suggested according to the invention that the crystallization promoter and a reducing substance are introduced into the inner layer.

Abstract: A glass includes (a) a matrix containing a compound of at least one nonmetallic element; and (b) a particle selectively formed in the matrix. This particle is made of the at least one nonmetallic element. A process for producing such glass includes (a) providing a blank glass containing a compound of at least one nonmetallic element; (b) condensing a pulsed laser beam to a focal point in the blank glass such that a particle is selectively formed in the blank glass at a position corresponding to the focal point, the particle being made of the at least one nonmetallic element dissociated from the compound; and (c) moving the focal point in the blank glass to produce a pattern of the particle. The glass is suitable for optical functional elements.

Abstract: Polarizing glass articles and methods of manufacturing polarizing glass articles are disclosed. Optical isolators using the polarizing glass articles have reduced coupling and surface losses when compared with conventional optical isolators.

Abstract: A glass polarizer and a method of making the polarizer, the polarizer being produced from an R2O—Al2O3—B2O3—SiO2 glass containing limited amounts of ZrO2 and TiO2, and having a silver halide liquidus temperature and a rutile liquidus temperature, both temperatures being not over 995° C.

Abstract: A film forming device in a substrate manufacturing apparatus a stage section on which a cassette storing a plurality of glass substrates is mounted. A treatment section for subjecting the substrate to a predetermined treatment is arranged to oppose the stage section. A washing section for washing the substrate is arranged near the stage section and the treatment section and deviated from a space between the stage section and the treatment section in a second direction crossing a first direction passing through the stage section and the treatment section. A transfer robot is arranged between the stage section and the treatment section. The transfer robot transfers the substrate between the stage section, treatment section, and washing section and loads the substrate, washed in the washing section, directly into the treatment section.

Abstract: A method of producing a polarizing glass article that exhibits a broad band of high contrast polarizing properties in the infrared region of the radiation spectrum. The polarizing glass is phase-separated or exhibits photochromic properties based on silver, copper, or copper-cadmium halide crystals or a combination thereof, which are precipitated in the glass and having a size in the range of 200-5000 Å. The glass has a surface layer containing elongated silver, copper, or copper cadmium metal particles, or a mixture thereof. The method comprises subjecting the glass article to a time-temperature cycle in which the temperature is at least about 76° C. or greater above the glass softening point, in a step to thermally form and precipitate large halide crystals, and elongated metallic particles under a stress of not over about 3000 psi, preferably not over about 2675 psi.

Abstract: Known is a method of producing a quartz glass crucible in which a crucible base body is provided at least in part with an inner layer in which the formation of cristobalite is induced by using a crystallization promoter. On the basis thereof, in order to provide an inexpensive method of producing a quartz glass crucible with reproducible characteristics for long service lives, it is suggested according to the invention that the crystallization promoter and a reducing substance are introduced into the inner layer.

Abstract: A method of producing a polarizing glass article that exhibits a broad band of high contrast polarizing properties in the infrared region of the radiation spectrum. The polarizing glass is phase-separated or exhibits photochromic properties based on silver, copper, or copper-cadmium halide crystals or a combination thereof, which are precipitated in the glass and having a size in the range of 200-5000 Å. The glass has a surface layer containing elongated silver, copper, or copper cadmium metal particles, or a mixture thereof. The method comprises subjecting the glass article to a time-temperature cycle in which the temperature is at least about 76° C. or greater above the glass softening point, in a step to thermally form and precipitate large halide crystals, and elongated metallic particles under a stress of not over about 3000 psi, preferably not over about 2675 psi.

Abstract: Method is disclosed for making glass having both polarizing and non-polarizing regions integral thereto by either ion-exchange or by exposure to light and heat. The polarizing regions of the resulting glass is effective in polarizing light radiation, that is, the glass exhibits permanent dichroic behavior and has at least some polarizing effect in the wavelength range of 400 to 700 nm. The base glass composition contains Cu, Ag and at least one halide such that the resulting precipitated crystal phase consists of a halide.

Abstract: A polarizing glass article, and a method of making the article, that exhibits a broad band of high contrast polarizing properties in the infrared region of the radiation spectrum, that is phase-separated by precipitating silver, copper, or copper-cadmium halide crystals in the glass within a size range of 200-5000 Å, and that contains elongated silver, copper, or copper-cadmium metal particles formed on or in the halide crystals, and having an elongated aspect ratio of at least 2:1, the article having a contrast ratio of at least 100,000 over a range of at least 300 nm.

Abstract: A process for producing a polarizing glass containing shape-anisotropic metallic particles dispersed in an oriented state therein, which comprises drawing a glass preform containing metallic halide particles dispersed therein while its viscosity being held above 2×106, but below 7×107 poises; and subjecting the drawn glass to a reducing treatment so that a part or all of the metallic halide particles are reduced to metallic particles, which process enables it to produce a polarizing glass with a high yield from a starting material of a glass containing metallic halide particles, while avoiding glass breakage or fracture during elongation as well as preventing the elongated metallic halide particles from returning to a spherical shape.