PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR SEPERATING SILICON WAFERS, TO BE USED FOR SOLAR CELLS, FROM ACCORDING TO THE HORIZONTAL RIBBON PULLING GROWTH METHOD PREPARED SILICON RIBBON

摘要

A method and apparatus for producing disk-shaped or wafer-shaped silicon bodies from a silicon tape produced in a horizontal tape-drawing process, utilizing a woven fabric of graphite threads as a carrier for the silicon to be crystallized. The crystallization of the molten silicon is initiated by heating sources positioned about the melt crucible. Radiation losses are reduced by providing shielding members in predetermined, prescribed intervals corresponding to the areas at which the parting lines are to be provided in the tape. The shielding members reduce the radiation losses to such an extent that a readily frangible line is produced in the area of the shielding members enabling the tape to be broken up at regular, predetermined intervals on a continuous basis.