IP Library Granted Patent US 6,995,036
Granted Patent B2
US 6,995,036 · App. 10/478,649 · Granted Feb 7, 2006

Production method of α-SiC wafer

Assignee: Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,995,036
App. No.
10/478,649
Granted
Feb 7, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention has its object to make it possible to produce an α-SiC wafer with stability and good reproducibility at low cost without using a seed crystal substrate that is expensive and less available. In each of crucibles 11 a , 11 b , 11 c , and so on, a β-SiC substrate 19 and an SiC raw material 17 are placed to face each other in close proximity. These crucibles are stacked in layers, and placed inside a radiation tube 40 . The radiation tube 40 is heated by an induction heating coil 23 , radiates radiation heat, and uniformly heats the crucibles 11 a , 11 b , 11 c and so on. The SiC raw material in each of the crucibles is sublimated and recrystallized on a surface of the β-SiC substrate 19.

Claims (22)

1. A production method of an α-SiC wafer in a method of growing an α-SiC crystal on a substrate by an SiC powder sublimation and recrystallization method, comprising the steps of:

setting a β-SiC crystal produced by a CVD method as the substrate and setting a crucible, in which the substrate and an SiC powder raw material are placed to be close to each other, as one unit;

stacking a plurality of the units vertically in layers and placing them inside a radiation tube of a dimension higher than height of the multilayer unit;

heating the radiation tube by an induction heating coil to uniformly heat-treat the multilayer unit inside the tube, and thereby growing α-SiC phases on a plurality of substrates up to thickness close to product thickness; and

thereafter, removing part or an entire of the aforementioned substrates to thereby produce the α-SiC wafers.

2. The production method of the α-SiC wafer according to claim 1 , wherein:

after the α-SiC phase is grown on a β-SiC crystal produced by a CVD method to be a little thicker than final thickness of the wafer, part or the entire of the aforementioned substrates is removed to produce the wafers of the α-SiC phase without cutting grown bulk layers.

3. A production method of an α-SiC wafer in a method of growing an α-SiC crystal on a substrate by an SiC powder sublimation and recrystallization method, comprising the steps of:

setting a β-SiC crystal produced by a CVD method as the substrate and setting a crucible, in which the substrate and an SiC powder raw material are placed to be close to each other, as one unit;

stacking a plurality of the units in layers and placing them inside an outer crucible;

surrounding an entire circumference of the outer crucible with a heat insulating material;

heating the aforementioned outer crucible surrounding a plurality of the aforementioned units stacked in layers by an induction heating coil to uniformly heat-treat the multilayer unit inside the outer crucible, and thereby growing α-SiC phases on a plurality of substrates up to thickness close to product thickness; and

thereafter, removing part or an entire of the aforementioned substrates to thereby produce the α-SiC wafers.

4. The production method of the α-SiC wafer according to claim 3 , wherein:

after the α-SiC phase is grown on a β-SiC crystal produced by a CVD method to be a little thicker than final thickness of the wafer, part or the entire of the aforementioned substrates is removed to produce the wafers of the α-SiC phase without cutting grown bulk layers.

5. A production method of an α-SiC wafer in a method of growing an α-SiC crystal on a substrate by an SiC powder sublimation and recrystallization method, comprising the steps of:

setting a β-SiC crystal produced by a CVD method as the substrate and setting a crucible, in which the substrate and an SiC powder raw material are placed to be close to each other, as one unit;

inserting magnetic shield rings in a top and bottom periphery portion of a plurality of units stacked in layers;

heat-treating the multilayer unit uniformly so that magnetic flux by an induction heating coil does not concentrate on the top and bottom periphery portions, and thereby growing α-SiC phases on a plurality of substrates up to thickness close to product thickness; and

thereafter, removing part or an entire of the aforementioned substrates to thereby produce the α-SiC wafers.

6. The production method of the α-SiC wafer according to claim 5 , wherein:

after the α-SiC phase is grown on a β-SiC crystal produced by a CVD method to be a little thicker than final thickness of the wafer, part or the entire of the aforementioned substrates is removed to produce the wafers of the α-SiC phase without cutting grown bulk layers.

Assignments (4)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 050370 FRAME: 0773. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Sep 19, 2019
From: MITSUI E&S MACHINERY CO., LTD.
To: FERROTEC HOLDINGS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 050441/0158 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2019
From: MITSUI E&S MACHINERY CO., LTD.
To: FERROTEC HOLDINGS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 050370/0773 →
CHANGE OF NAME AND COMPANY SPLIT Recorded Jul 23, 2018
From: MITSUI ENGINEERING & SHIPBUILDING CO., LTD.
To: MITSUI E&S MACHINERY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 046609/0255 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2004
From: NISHINO, SHIGEHIRO; MURATA, KAZUTOSHI; CHINONE, YOSHIHARU
To: MITSUI ENGINEERING & SHIPBUILDING CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 014282/0199 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2001-157668 · May 25, 2001 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20040241343A1 · Dec 2, 2004