Temperature Dependence of the Viscosity of Molten Silicon Measured by the Oscillating Cup Method

Abstract

The viscosity of molten silicon was measured using a oscillating cup made of SiC. In the temperature range, from the solidification point of about 1,415° C to about 1,600° C, the viscosity ranged from 0.7 to 0.9 mPa· s. The activation energy estimated from the data was 0.20 eV. An anomalous increase in the viscosity with decreasing temperature was observed for temperatures lower than about 1,430° C. In this temperature range, an anomalous temperature dependence of the density and surface tension have been observed. Our results thus indicate that the anomalous behavior of different properties occurs simultaneously, reflecting a kind of essential variation in the melt.