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SolarMaterial reworks, finishes and recycles silicon material from various sources - generally by-products of the semiconductor and solar industry. Modern classification systems and a crusher are available for quality assurance, classification of the silicon pieces, sorting by conduction types and for pulverization work.
Wafer and solar cell recycling
All standard fully or partially processed wafers and solar cell types of formats up to 156 x 156 millimeters can be recycled in the wet-chemical treatment process. Wafers and broken wafers (down to the fine grain size range) with soiled surfaces, solar cells with defective doping layers, anti-reflective coatings and contacts are used. Solar cells produced by different manufacturers require treatment specifically suited to their layer systems. Also, the surface structure of the silicon wafers should not be changed significantly if possible. The solar cells undergo a chemical cleaning process with the result that the pure silicon wafers are recovered.
Surface treatment of silicon
On special etching lines, silicon material is freed of soiling or wafers are cleaned of saw damage in a series of etching steps. Customer-specific surface treatment such as polishing by etching, isotropic etching or texture etching can be implemented using our own or customer-specific formulas.
Quality control
SolarMaterial conducts a quality control of secondary silicon materials from semiconductor or solar production. This inspection includes among other aspects
- Determination of conductor type
- Classification according to resistance class
- Fraction separation
- Classification according to purity
Module recycling
SolarMaterial operates the world's first pilot system for recycling all standard solar modules. The process for separating solar modules is based on recovering the intact silicon wafers or the broken silicon wafers as a raw material from the module assembly using special thermal process technology.
» Learn more about module recycling
Special products
As special services, SolarMaterial manufactures customer-specific p- and n-type cast blocks in different resistance ranges and offers material tests and various pyrometallurgical treatments.
Research and development
Key areas of SolarMaterial's research and development work include:
- Development of silicon treatment processes (mechanical,
chemical, pyrometallurgical) - Sustainability tests of silicon materials and PV products
- Development of recycling processes for solar cells and
modules of all types
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The Company
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