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Silicon Carbide – An Overview

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Silicon carbide (SiC), sometimes referred to as carborundum, is a silicon-carbon semiconductor.  It occurs in nature as the extremely rare mineral moissanite. Since 1893, synthetic SiC powder has been mass-produced as an abrasive.

Compound NameSilicon Carbide (SiC)
Melting point2,730 °C
Structurehexagonal crystal structure
Density3.21 g/cm³
Thermal Conductivity490 W m−1 K−1

What is Silicon Carbide (SiC)?

Silicon carbide (SiC) is a pure silicon and pure carbon semiconductor base material. SiC can be doped with nitrogen or phosphorus to form an n-type semiconductor or doped with beryllium, boron, aluminum, or gallium to form a p-type semiconductor. Although there are many different types and purities of silicon carbide, semiconductor-grade silicon carbide has only recently been available for use in the industry.

Silicon carbide structure

Silicon carbide crystallizes in a tightly packed, covalently linked form. The atoms are organized in such a way that two main coordination tetrahedra are produced, with four carbon and four silicon atoms linked to a central Si and C atom.

Production of SiC

The most basic technique of producing silicon carbide includes melting silica sand with carbon, such as coal, at high temperatures of up to 2500 degrees Celsius. Iron and carbon impurities are present in darker, more common forms of silicon carbide, while pure SiC crystals are colourless and form when silicon carbide sublimes at 2700 degrees Celsius. These crystals are heated and then deposit onto graphite at a lower temperature in a process known as the Lely technique. Two commonly used methods to produce SiC are the Lely method and Chemical vapour deposition.

Lely method

In this process, a granite crucible is heated to a very high temperature, generally by induction, to sublimate silicon carbide powder. A graphite rod suspended in the gaseous mixture at a lower temperature permits pure silicon carbide to deposit and form crystals.

Chemical vapor deposition

Cubic SiC, which is frequently utilized in carbon-based synthesis methods and employed in the semiconductor industry, is also produced via the chemical vapour deposition approach. A specific chemical blend of gases is introduced into a vacuum environment and combines before being deposited onto a substrate in this technique.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. is silicon carbide ionic or covalent?

Silicon Carbide (SiC) is solid with a covalent network. When we examine its structure, we can see that silicon atoms are tetrahedrally linked to carbon atoms by a covalent connection.

2. Which is better silicon carbide or aluminum oxide?

When compared to aluminium oxide, silicon carbide is sharper and harder, but it is less durable because it is brittle and has a narrower form that wears down at a faster pace. Nothing beats silicon carbide for finishing since it’s so forgiving.

3. What is silicon carbide?

SiC is a dark crystalline silicon and carbon combination that is used as an abrasive, a refractory, and in electric resistors.

4. What is Silicon dioxide?

Silicon dioxide (SiO2), commonly known as silica, is the most prevalent and significant silicon chemical. Each silicon atom in Silica is tetrahedrally connected to four oxygen atoms, with each oxygen atom having two near silicon neighbours. It makes up the majority of known rocks, accounting for more than 95%. The Earth’s crust is made up of 59 per cent silica.

Silica has three main crystalline varieties: quartz (by far the most abundant), tridymite, and cristobalite. Other varieties include coesite, keatite, and lechatelierite

5. What is a moissanite?

Moissanite, commonly known as silicon carbide, is a rare, naturally occurring mineral. It’s an incredible stone that mimics a diamond in almost every way. Moissanite even appears like a diamond in a conventional thermal probe. It seems as dazzling as its more expensive natural equivalent, the diamond, to the naked eye.

6. What is carborundum?

Carborundum is a trademark for silicon carbide, an inorganic substance discovered by E.G. Acheson in 1893 and for which he was granted a patent. Carborundum has a diamond-like crystal structure and is nearly as hard as diamond. It’s utilized as a cutting, grinding, and polishing abrasive, as well as an antislip additive and a refractory.

7. What is silicon used for?

Silicon is utilized not just in the building sector, but also in high-tech equipment such as computer chips, solar panels, and transistors. Silicon’s ability to operate as a semiconductor, allowing electrical current to be controlled, makes it perfect for nearly all electronic equipment. Check another interesting article SiO2 lewis structure which includes more details about silicon and silica.

8. What is coefficient thermal expansion?

The coefficient of thermal expansion indicates how an object’s size varies as the temperature changes. It calculates the fractional change in size per degree change in temperature at constant pressure, with lower coefficients indicating a reduced tendency for a size change (Check full article thermal energy equation for details).

9. sicl4 polar or nonpolar?

SiCl4 (silicon tetrachloride) is nonpolar in nature. Because the four chemical bonds between silicon and chlorine are uniformly distributed, SiCl4 is non-polar. Check full article sicl4 polar or nonpolar for details.

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Umair Javaid, PhD Student
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