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Post by bobby1 on Feb 10, 2009 21:59:31 GMT -5
I got this from the rock shop in the Bay Area that I taught classes at. The owner specialized in Silicon ingots, slabs, tumbling pieces and such that were castoffs from the electronics manufacturing business in the area. This is a very small ingot piece probably made when they were doing maintenance on the growing machine. This is a side view. I really got this one because I loved the crystalline pattern on the base of the ingot. I may cut the end off the ingot and make a cab out of this, then again, maybe not. Bob
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MikeS
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2009
Posts: 1,081
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Post by MikeS on Feb 10, 2009 23:22:25 GMT -5
that's pretty interesting!
Mike
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88pathoffroad
spending too much on rocks
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Post by 88pathoffroad on Feb 11, 2009 1:00:47 GMT -5
That crystallized base looks bad-ass! Keep it!
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DeanW
has rocks in the head
Member since December 2007
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Post by DeanW on Feb 11, 2009 10:51:59 GMT -5
Wow Bob, I've seen a lot of silicon chunks before (former BIOS and systems-software engineer) but never seen the crystalization like that. Very cool.
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Post by mohs on Feb 11, 2009 22:40:13 GMT -5
wow that's pretty wild! Have you cabbed a slab of silicon ingot before? Have any pics? The polishing of silicon wafers is the premium of mirror finishes ! ed
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Post by bobby1 on Feb 11, 2009 23:40:40 GMT -5
Ed, I did a few cabs but I didn't like working it because it was so messy. You ended up with your hands stained black, like working Malachite or Hematite. My dad worked a lot of it. He made these pieces. Bob
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Post by mohs on Feb 12, 2009 0:34:44 GMT -5
Man those are freaking excellent! Thanks for posting!
I can imagine the mess. A fine fine talcy powdery blackness that is difficult to remove form the skin! I've a little experience polishing silicon wafers. Wore hair net, booties, lab coat. Total clean room. And super cool polishing machine technology.
Now that I've seen that work I will try it! At least once. I hadn't really thought of it at all. Your post corrected that!
Once again thanks for taking the time!
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Post by catmandewe on Feb 12, 2009 1:07:19 GMT -5
Man, that is some cooool stuff!!
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Feb 12, 2009 8:51:55 GMT -5
Your ingot is great and so are your father's cabs! I can only imagine the mess. Sounds similar to laser toner cartridge dust. Chuck
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Post by frane on Feb 12, 2009 13:46:23 GMT -5
This is the first I had seen these...I guess I haven't paid attention to electronics byproducts(?) The end piece sure looks neat and the cabs your father made are simply beautiful! Fran
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Post by mohs on Feb 12, 2009 15:42:48 GMT -5
Sounds similar to laser toner cartridge dust. That's an excellent analogy Chuck! The toner may actually be the same stuff. Certainly carbon based. Just smears when you try to wipe it up.
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mossyrockhound
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Post by mossyrockhound on Feb 12, 2009 19:30:55 GMT -5
Those are very nice cabs your Dad made! I would be willing to wear gloves to make some cabs like that. And that ingot looks awesome showing the crystallization! Does anybody know how (the process) they made the silicon ingots? It would be fun to try to make some in a home lab situation.
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darrad
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Post by darrad on Feb 13, 2009 21:38:04 GMT -5
The shine it take is incredible!!!. I would keep the ingot as a specimen.
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bushmanbilly
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Member since October 2008
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Post by bushmanbilly on Feb 14, 2009 12:05:51 GMT -5
Wild stuff, the shine on the cabs is blinding.
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Post by mohs on Feb 14, 2009 15:24:11 GMT -5
Does anybody know how (the process) they made the silicon ingots? It would be fun to try to make some in a home lab situation. All we need is some sand, a quartz crucible or sand cast, some household chemicals for purifying the silicon from the other impurities, heat and pressure. Melt sand, pour into container, let cool… presto! Were in the ingot business! Basically that what it is. :help: But here’s a site that a bit more advance! ;D www.ent.ohiou.edu/~juwt/HTMLS/semicondmanufactureprocess/crystalgrowing.htm
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mossyrockhound
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Post by mossyrockhound on Feb 14, 2009 20:31:12 GMT -5
That reference by deeptime for polycrystalline silicon manufacture is really interesting. I'm pretty convinced that I won't be making any in my shop though. Here's another really interesting website on polycrystalline silicon: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystalline_siliconAll the equipment I see in these two websites looks massive and expensive, so we better just glom onto those ingot leftovers when we get a chance!
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Post by mohs on Feb 14, 2009 21:06:54 GMT -5
hey mossyrocker this won't fit in your shop?
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mossyrockhound
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Post by mossyrockhound on Feb 21, 2009 14:29:08 GMT -5
I might be able to fit it in, but then I'd have to get rid of my slab saw, and I just couldn't do that! Do you have any idea why they made it so tall?
Garry
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Post by mohs on Feb 21, 2009 16:04:38 GMT -5
I guess there making really looonnnggggggggggggggg ingots ? o that just the chemical processing center! we got a keep the slab saw !!!! hmmm... maybe we could get a bailout for more space ? edmost
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mossyrockhound
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Post by mossyrockhound on Feb 21, 2009 16:42:14 GMT -5
I don't qualify for any bailout money. I'm one of the dumb ones that made the mistake of paying off my mortgage! Guess I'll leave making of the polycrystalline silicon ingots for the big boys. Garry
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