Renewable energies

The high chemical inertness and compatibility with hyperpure Silicon means Si3N4 components are highly suitable for use in photovoltaics.

The high chemical inertness and compatibility with hyperpure Silicon means Si3N4 components are highly suitable for use in photovoltaics. Suitability begins with the first manufacturing steps, such as the synthesis and handling of chlorosilane and polysilane compounds. Silicon nitride ceramics make it possible to design piping, ball valves and reactor linings that are free of contamination and maintenance. High-purity Silicon produced in subsequent process steps can then be metered and conveyed with the aid of Silicon nitride ceramic screw conveyors or formed into pellets via low-wear Silicon nitride compacting rolls. 

After the final processing of the pure Silicon into wafers, these can then be moved with ceramic grippers or inspected using probe cards (wafer handling).  Wear and contamination problems in feeding, structuring, and coating systems can be reduced by transport rollers, orifices and shielding plates or planar and tube targets made of ceramics.