Device and method for low-contaminating, automatic breaking of silicon fragments

摘要

A device for converting broken silicon pieces for semiconductor or solar use to an even finer product also suitable for such uses includes a number of breaking tools with a surface of a hard wear-resistant material and has a breaking ratio of 1.5-3. Independent claims are also included for (1) a breaking and classifying device for production of finely crushed silicon for semiconductor or solar use comprising a device as above together with a feeder (especially a hopper), a classifier (especially a sieve) and a collector for the fine silicon, the collector especially being a manually operated container; and (2) automatic processes for production of fine silicon for direct use in semiconductors or in photovoltaic applications in which the finely crushed silicon is classified into a fraction with an edge length below or equal to the maximum required edge length and also a fraction of edge length above that required, both fractions being collected.