Patent ID: 8857214

Claim:
A process for producing a crucible for holding molten silicon, the crucible having a base and one or more sidewalls, the process comprising: forming a composition comprising molten silica and a fining agent to prevent bubble formation, the fining agent selected from the group consisting of arsenic oxide, antimony oxide, KNO 3 , NaNO 3 , NaCl, a fluoride salt, a sulfate salt, and any combination thereof in a vessel; discharging the composition comprising molten silica and the fining agent from the vessel into a mold or onto a mandrel; applying a force to the composition comprising molten silica to thereby mold the molten composition into the shape of (1) a crucible having a base and one or more sidewalls, (2) a plate or (3) a tube; and cooling the molten composition to solidify the composition, wherein when the molten composition is molded into the shape of a plate or a tube, the plate or tube is shaped into the form of a crucible having a base and one or more sidewalls.