Refining of MG-Si by hybrid melting using steam plasma and EMC

In this study, it was aimed to remove boron, one of the major impurities of MG-Si (metallic grade silicon), in molten silicon by a steam plasma method utilizing EMC (electro magnetic casting) process. In order to effectively remove boron, less volatile than silicon, plasma injection gas was systematically varied. As a result, the most effective way to remove boron was additionally injecting hydrogen gas and steam with argon gas, which is a reactive gas of a general plasma injection routine. Although mass loss of silicon increased with increase in plasma injection time, the refining effect of boron and several metallic impurities like aluminium and titanium was improved significantly.