Introduction
Recently, there has been a rising need globally for ceramic materials with increased strength and durability for them to be able to withstand harsh working conditions and still perform efficiently. This is why silicon carbide ceramic materials have emerged as one of the best and most used ceramic materials. Aside from having impressive hardness and durability, it also boasts other exciting properties, which we will extensively look at in today’s article. Also, you will learn about the various types, applications, market trends of silicon carbide ceramics, and how ceramic heat sinks differ from Aluminum and other materials.
Characteristics of Silicon Carbide Ceramic Materials
Silicon carbide ceramic materials are advanced ceramic materials made from the semiconductor material, Silicon Carbide, and are used for a good number of industrial applications. It appears yellow sometimes and greenish at other times. These semiconductors are made of Silicon and Carbon arranged in crystal lattice structures, making them one of the hardest known artificial materials on earth. Here are some properties of silicon carbide ceramic materials you should know when considering purchase:
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High level of resistance to heat and corrosion
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Ability to withstand high temperatures reaching 1,300°C.
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Scratch resistant
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Excellent conductors of heat and electricity.
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Chemically inactive materials.
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Low density
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Possession of a wide band gap, meaning they can serve as good semiconductors for electronic devices.
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Low thermal expansion and shock resistance.
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Extremely hard materials, second only to Diamond.
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High density of 3.20g/mm
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High melting point of 2,730°C
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Large elastic modulus greater than 400 GPa.
Types of Silicon Carbide Ceramic Materials
There are three main types of silicon carbide materials:
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Reaction bonded silicon carbide materials (RBSiC):
This type of Silicon Carbide ceramic material is known for exceptional density and strength. It is manufactured industrially from the chemical combination of silicon powders and carbon under high temperatures and minimal sintering pressure. When this is done, you will usually get a porous material that can accept silicon infiltration. As a result of RBSiC’s high resistance to temperature, wear, and tear, it is an excellent material for producing crucibles, space mirrors, and many other industrial high-temperature components.
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Silicon Infiltrated Silicon Carbide Materials (SiSiC):
This type of silicon carbide material is more like a high density grade of the reaction bonded silicon carbide material. The difference here is that the porous materials are infiltrated with liquid silicon. You can use SiSiC for different applications such as ceramic tubes for lining industrial machines, semiconductors for electronic devices and tools for making nozzles and cutting materials.
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Sintered Silicon Carbide Materials (SSIC):
These lightweight materials are formed by compressing the particles of silicon carbide powder under high temperature and low pressure. They have high purity, smoother surfaces and higher densities. You can use this type of SSIC material industrially for the production of pumps, mechanicals seals and some machine spare parts.
Comparison Between Ceramic Heat Sinks And Aluminum Heat Sinks.
Heat sinks are devices or plates used in the electrical industry as a means to remove excessive heat produced by electronics (Heat dissipation). With the increased production of electronic devices in recent years, advanced ceramic materials and aluminum have become the two most commonly used materials in the production of these heat sinks.
However, if you are to choose between the two options, ceramic heat sinks made from advanced ceramic materials like silicon carbide are more likely to be a better option than aluminum since they are better at dissipating or removing heat from electronic devices. Why are they better? If you may ask. It’s because unlike Aluminum, Silicon Carbide heat sinks are stronger conductors of electricity in high-precision electronic devices due to their exceptional hardness and ability to perform well under unfavourable conditions like high temperatures or heat. Not only that, these advanced ceramic heat sinks are also more environmentally friendly and have a higher thermal resistance than aluminum.
When you compare it to aluminium, ceramic heat sinks can also withstand chemical reactions and corrosion, and do not allow electromagnetic interference. These properties listed above make silicon carbide ceramic heat sinks dissipate heat from light or high-energy electronic devices excellently compared to aluminum.
Aluminum heat sinks aren’t a bad option. If you are considering the cost of purchasing either of them, then you should know that Aluminium heat sinks are cheaper compared to ceramic heat sinks and are also good thermal conductors. Choosing between a ceramic heat sink and aluminum heat sinks now depends on the properties you want or the application you may need it for. So, while ceramic heat sinks give you optimal performance, aluminum heat sinks are cost-effective.
Silicon Carbide Heating Elements
Silicon carbide can be used to make heating elements, boasting high thermal conductivity. With the high density that it has, rods and ceramic tubes can be extracted from the different grades of SiC at temperatures reaching 2,500°C.
High power output is a distinct trademark of silicon carbide heating elements. These elements, most times, do not need external support, as they can be mounted in any way (either horizontally or vertically).
Silicon Carbide is used to make heating elements because:
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It has the ability to manage different products notwithstanding the atmosphere.
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They are very economical and don’t have storage problems.
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It is also clean and environmentally friendly.
Applications of Silicon Carbide Heating Elements
Silicon carbide heating elements can be used in different settings and applications. Let’s look at some:
Glass Industry
In the glass industry, you can use these SiC heating elements for melting (due to their refractory property) and refining glass.
Electrical Industry
You can use it to make electrical porcelains, grinding wheels, spark plugs, diffusion and silicon carbide heaters.
Metallurgy
Sintering, hardening, deoxidizing, assaying, heat-treatment, forging and brazing are all suitable applications for silicon carbide heating elements in the metallurgical industry.
Ceramics Industry
The ceramics industry is not left out, because pottery and some other kitchen utensils you make use of at home are all products of silicon carbide heating.
Current International Market Trends and Market Value of Silicon Carbide Ceramics.
Silicon Infiltrated Silicon Carbide Materials (SiSiC) and Sintered Silicon Carbide (SSiC) dominated the ceramics market for a long time in 2023. Due to their usefulness, so many industries began to demand for these silicon carbide ceramics materials and as a result, the market grew at an astonishing rate.
It would interest you to know that two years ago, the silicon carbide ceramics market was valued at $1.27 billion. With a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 5.25%, it is expected to exceed $2 billion by 2030. The continent of Asia has the key market players like Fuji Electric Company, Ltd., Japan, ROHM Company, Ltd, STMicroelectronics, etc.
Here at GGSCeramics, we offer the best blend of silicon carbide ceramic materials, ceramic heat sinks, and products for your use and delight.
Applications of Silicon Carbide Ceramics Materials
Silicon carbide ceramic materials can be applied in various industries, ranging from chemical industries, engineering firms, to manufacturing industries, and a host of others. We will look at a few of them:
Engineering Firms
In Engineering firms, you can use Silicon Carbide in electronics to produce devices, machines and equipment that require a high level of thermal conductivity and heat resistance. For example, It can be used in the production of brakes, engine parts, pumps, bearings, mechanical seals, furnace linings, nozzles, pipes, etc.
Ceramics Industry
You can use silicon carbide ceramics to produce nail polishes, kiln shelves and linings due to their excellent refractory and chemical resistance.
Production of Abrasives
Materials that require rough and scratch resistant surfaces like machine parts, cutting tools can be produced from silicon carbide ceramics. Abrasives for instance, use silicon carbide hardness and wear resistant properties to boost their effectiveness.
Electronics Industry
Electronics, semiconductors, and power devices like Schottky diodes, MOSFETS also benefit from silicon carbide ceramics.
Military
Bulletproof vests used in the military react brilliantly well to high-impact objects because the majority of them are made from silicon carbide ceramic materials.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the common name for Silicon Carbide Ceramics materials?
The common name for Silicon Carbide Ceramics materials is Moissanite.
What is the Mohs hardness rating of Silicon Carbide ceramics?
A Mohs hardness rating of 9.5 makes silicon carbide ceramics the second hardest material on Earth after Diamond.
Do Silicon Carbide Ceramic materials have a boiling point and melting point?
Yes, they have a melting point of about 2,730°C, but they do not have a defined boiling point. However, recent research shows that at 4,936°F, they can change from solids directly to gas (Sublimation).
What is Silica Carbide and what differentiates it from Silicon Carbide?
Their chemical and physical compositions are what differentiates them. While, Silica Carbide is an oxide of Silicon, with the chemical formula SiO2, Silicon carbide is a chemical compound made of Silicon and Carbon.
Conclusion
Silicon carbide materials would continue to be a mainstay in the world economy as long as the world’s population continues to use and demand advanced ceramic materials. With innovations and modifications to these silicon carbide ceramic materials coming up, it’s surely one of the best sectors you can safely enter and expect a boom.