Silicon carbide (SiC) with quartz sand, petroleum coke (or coal), wood chips (the production of green silicon carbide need to add salt) and other raw materials by high temperature resistance furnace smelting. Silicon carbide also exists in nature, rare mineral moissanite. Silicon carbide, also known as Moissanite. In contemporary C, N, B and other high-tech non-oxide refractory materials, and silicon carbide is the most widely used, most economical, can be called emery or refractory sand. China’s industrial production of silicon carbide is divided into two kinds of black silicon carbide, and green silicon carbide, are hexagonal crystals, a specific gravity of 3.20 – 3.25, the hardness of 2840 ~ 3320kg / mm2.
Silicon carbide was accidentally invented by Edward G. Acheson different field in 1891, while trying to manufacture artificial diamonds. A mixture of fine sand and charcoal brick is about the inner conductor resistance furnace carbon. Current passing through the furnace to bring the carbon in the coke and silica sand, a chemical reaction to form the compound of SiC and carbon monoxide gas. In the end you have a green and black crystal like components, these components after crushing and grinding into various sizes each use. The crystals were deeper, smaller purity. Some natural silicon carbide was found in Arizona Grand Canyon Diablo meteorite. Most of the sales to the worldwide silicon carbide is synthetic.
Acheson patented the method of making silicon carbide in 1893. Silicon carbide is also called carborundum because Acheson was trying to dissolve carbon in molten corundum (alumina) when this material was discovered,and now silicon dioxide nanoparticles is popular very much. It was first put to use as an abrasive and later used in electronic applications. It was also used as a detector in radios in 20th century. In 1907 LED was first produced by Henry Joseph Round by applying high voltage to silicon carbide crystals.
This chemical has low density, high strength, low thermal expansion, high thermal conductivity, high hardness, excellent thermal shock resistance, and fantastic chemical inertness. Due to its properties it is widely used in suction box covers, seals, bearings, ball valve parts, hot gas flow liners, heat exchangers, semiconductor process equipment and fixed and moving turbine components.
In today’s world it is commonly used in abrasives such as grinding, water-jet cutting, sandblasting etc. Particles of the silicon carbide are used in sandpaper. It is also found in various automobile parts such as brake disks due to its resistance to extreme temperatures. The compound is also used in the mirror of the astronomical telescope because of its rigidity and hardness and thermal conductivity. It is also used to melt glass and non-ferrous metals, production of ceramics, float glass production, steel production, as catalyst support, graphene production etc.
It is also used as a gemstone in jewelery and is referred to as “moissanite” and is similar to diamond in its hardness with a Mohs hardness rating of 9. It is much more resistant to heat and lighter than diamonds and hence has more shine, sharper facets. It has also become a very popular diamond substitute.
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