Difference between revisions of "Sublimation"

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The sublimation method to create synthetic materials is a method where a solid is heated at high enough temperatures that it goes from the liquid state directly into the gaseous state, skipping the liquid state. The gas then condenses as a solid, again skipping the liquid state.<br />
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The sublimation method to create synthetic materials is a method where a solid is heated at appropiate temperatures and pressure, usually in a near vacuum, so that it goes from the solid state directly into the gaseous state, skipping the liquid state. The gas then condenses as a solid, again skipping the liquid state. A material famous for this is CO<sub>2</sub> (dry ice); at room temperatures and normal atmospheric pressure this solid block of ice will immediately sublime into a gas.<br />
 
[[Synthetic moissanite]] is the main synthetic gemstone produced by this process.
 
[[Synthetic moissanite]] is the main synthetic gemstone produced by this process.
  
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[[Image:Sublimation1.png|left|framed]]
 
[[Image:Sublimation1.png|left|framed]]
 
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Below follows a summary of the sublimation method used to create synthetic moissanite (silicon carbide), for a detailed explanation we refer to the [http://www.google.com/patents?id=XD4WAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4#PPA1,M1 patent description].
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Below follows a summary of the sublimation method used to create synthetic moissanite (silicon carbide), for a detailed explanation we refer to the [http://www.google.com/patents?id=XD4WAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4#PPA1,M1 patent] description.
  
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On the left is a cross section of the cylindrical graphite crucible that is held inside a larger, evacuated, furnace.
  
A powder of silicon carbide ('''1''') is transported by a screw ('''3''') that works like an Archimedes Screw just underneath a porous graphite plate ('''5'''). That screw is rotated by a rod ('''2''').<br />
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A powder of silicon carbide ('''1''') is transported by a screw ('''3'''), that works like an Archimedes Screw, just underneath a porous graphite plate ('''5'''). That screw is rotated by a rod ('''2''').<br />
 
When the powder reaches the stage just below the porous plate, it is heated at around 2,300° C and the powder goes into the gaseous state ('''4'''). This temperature is the sublimation temperature.
 
When the powder reaches the stage just below the porous plate, it is heated at around 2,300° C and the powder goes into the gaseous state ('''4'''). This temperature is the sublimation temperature.
  
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The seed crystal ('''8''') is held by a mount ('''9''') that in some setups can be lowered/raised/rotated depending on what the pyrometer indicates.
 
The seed crystal ('''8''') is held by a mount ('''9''') that in some setups can be lowered/raised/rotated depending on what the pyrometer indicates.
  
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Silicon carbide is a good semi-conducter with a large bandgap (+3 eV) and one could expect the produced crystals to be colorless. However n-type dopants (nitrogen) in the furnace create [[causes of color#The Band Theory|color centers]]. This is solved by adding an equal amount of a p-type dopant (aluminium) to the powder source, in effect canceling eachothers color centers.
 
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===Gasses method===
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In this adaption, the powder is substituted by two gasses, silane (SiH<sub>4</sub>) and ethylene (C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub>).
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When these two gasses combine together at a temperature of about 2,400° C, they will react and form a silicon carbide gas. This gas will then condense the same way as the powder source.
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==References==
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* [http://www.google.com/patents?id=XD4WAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4#PPA1,M1 1995 patent that describes the production of large silicon carbide crystals through sublimation]
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* [http://www.google.com/patents?id=3hopAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4&dq=5718760#PPA3,M1 The 1998 Cree Research, Inc. patent]
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'''Next: [[Skull_crucible| Skull Crucible]]'''
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'''[[Table_Of_Contents| Return to the Table of Contents]]'''

Latest revision as of 13:08, 30 May 2009

The sublimation method to create synthetic materials is a method where a solid is heated at appropiate temperatures and pressure, usually in a near vacuum, so that it goes from the solid state directly into the gaseous state, skipping the liquid state. The gas then condenses as a solid, again skipping the liquid state. A material famous for this is CO2 (dry ice); at room temperatures and normal atmospheric pressure this solid block of ice will immediately sublime into a gas.
Synthetic moissanite is the main synthetic gemstone produced by this process.

There are several different setups to accomplish this, most of them use a seed plate and a powder source. Another way is by the use of gasses and a seed plate.

Powder method

Sublimation1.png


Below follows a summary of the sublimation method used to create synthetic moissanite (silicon carbide), for a detailed explanation we refer to the patent description.

On the left is a cross section of the cylindrical graphite crucible that is held inside a larger, evacuated, furnace.

A powder of silicon carbide (1) is transported by a screw (3), that works like an Archimedes Screw, just underneath a porous graphite plate (5). That screw is rotated by a rod (2).
When the powder reaches the stage just below the porous plate, it is heated at around 2,300° C and the powder goes into the gaseous state (4). This temperature is the sublimation temperature.

The surface of the seed crystal (8), or the growing crystal (7), is kept at a temperature just below the sublimation temperature (2,200° C) and the silicon carbide gas condenses at the surface of the seed crystal or the growing crystal.

An opening (6) in the, annular, graphite crucible holds an optical pyrometer that monitors the temperature of the seed's or growing crystal's surface. The seed crystal (8) is held by a mount (9) that in some setups can be lowered/raised/rotated depending on what the pyrometer indicates.

Silicon carbide is a good semi-conducter with a large bandgap (+3 eV) and one could expect the produced crystals to be colorless. However n-type dopants (nitrogen) in the furnace create color centers. This is solved by adding an equal amount of a p-type dopant (aluminium) to the powder source, in effect canceling eachothers color centers.

Gasses method

In this adaption, the powder is substituted by two gasses, silane (SiH4) and ethylene (C2H4). When these two gasses combine together at a temperature of about 2,400° C, they will react and form a silicon carbide gas. This gas will then condense the same way as the powder source.

References



Next: Skull Crucible

Return to the Table of Contents