Copper Removal from Hypereutectic Cu-Si Alloys by Heavy Liquid Media Separation

• Published in: Metallurgical and materials transactions. B, Process metallurgy and materials processing science Process metallurgy and materials processing science, 2012-04, Vol.43 (2), p.379-387
• Main Authors: Mitrašinović, Aleksandar M., Utigard, Torstein A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ALLOYING; Alloys; Applied sciences; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Copper; COPPER ALLOYS (40 TO 99.3 CU); Copper base alloys; COPPER SILICON ALLOYS; Exact sciences and technology; Liquids; Materials Science; Media; Metallic Materials; Metallurgy; Metals. Metallurgy; Nanotechnology; PARTICLE SIZE AND SHAPE; PHASE DIAGRAMS; Production of metals; REFINING; Separation; Silicon; SOLAR CELLS; Solute movement; Structural Materials; Surfaces and Interfaces; Thin Films
• ISSN: 1073-5615; 1543-1916
• DOI: 10.1007/s11663-011-9614-2

A high-capacity method for silicon refining is investigated. The biggest obstacle in Si refining using the alloying technique is the amount of solute element. In the current work, Cu is removed from two Cu-Si hypereutectic alloys by the heavy liquid media separation technique. The results indicated 86.0 pct silicon recovered, which is close to the theoretical limit. The chemical analysis showed a Cu concentration of 0.68 wt pct in the 50 Cu-Si alloy for a 75- μ m average particle size after heavy liquid media separation. The optimal particle size was found in the range of 75 to 125  μ m. Heavy liquid media separation is an efficient technique in the process of liberating Si dendrites that can be used as feedstock in solar cell applications.