The Best Silicon Carbide Heating Elements Types

Silicon carbide (SiC) barely occurs naturally on earth but is synthetically produced. As a crystalline compound of carbon and silica, it demonstrates extreme hardness. Through a few chemical processes, chemists have achieved incredible potential of this compound. Hence, the world has gone from merely using it on grinding wheels, cutting tools, abrasives, and sandpaper to heating elements and refractory linings.

A few discoveries have also revealed the compound’s wide band-gap, anti-oxidant, and anti-corrosion properties.

SiC demonstrates high thermal conductivity and electrical resistance. Thus, it’s applicable in metallurgy, glass, ceramics, magnetic materials industries, etc.

The 6 Best Types of Heating Elements

1. SC Type Silicon Carbide Heating Element

The SC type silicon heating element is made up of high-quality, high resistance silicon carbide materials. Its single spiral configuration enhances heating efficiency and heat distribution. The element is formed by sintering at extremely high temperatures (2000°C) and high-temperature silification.

The element is pressed with a 500 T press in the primal stages, characteristically enhancing its thermal conductivity and resistance in high-temperature atmospheres. It’s mostly taken out for its low oxidation and longevity properties. The element can be subjected to temperature conditions as high as 1,450°C and still work for a continuous 2,000 hours.

Pros

• High temperature resistance

• Low oxidation

• Long uptime of about 2,000 hours

• Uniform heating with furnace stability

• Resilient against arcing when exposed to high current impact

Industry Applications

The SC type of heating element is widely used in heat treatment furnaces for its uniform heating. Its endurance in high-temperature atmospheres and high uptime makes it perfect for firing kilns in ceramics and refractory materials.

The SC type’s precise heating, high-temperature endurance, and anti-corrosion properties are employed in metal processing and casting. As such, the SC-type SiC heating element is used in refining metals, including aluminum and copper.

2. H-Type Silicon Carbide Heating Element

The H-type silicon carbide heating element is popular for its incredible functionality in rapid temperature fluctuations. At a glance, this type of heating element comes as an H-shaped hollow tube that has thickened ends. The tube, which is the heating part, comes as brittle and resilient and can withstand extreme temperatures.

In the event that the heating atmospheres keep going to extreme highs and lows, you won’t have to worry about the H-type’s service life. Besides, its stable appearance won’t deform as it is intentionally designed for fluctuating temperature conditions.

As such, the H-type detects the temperature conditions you set for your manufacturing technology and adjusts accordingly. Hence, you have a heating element that can achieve precise working temperatures.

Pros:

• High purity and chemical stability

• Incredible stability in rapid temperature fluctuations

• Resilience to deformation under extremely high temperatures

Industry Applications

The H-type is used in environmental test chambers and environmental simulation equipment. Such tests leverage H-type’s performance under extreme temperature conditions and its ability to produce consistent heat. This high-quality heating element’s ability to provide precise heating temperature also makes it ideal for glass, electronics, and chemical production.

3. W-Type Silicon Carbide Heating Element

Like the H-type, the W-type silicon carbide heating element simulates the letter W. Made purely of silicon carbide rods, the heating element combines three rods at one end, forming a unique configuration. Such a configuration is specifically curated for high-heat manufacturing technologies over large surface areas.

The W-type’s design’s major upside is the ability to provide uniform and consistent heat in large-scale productions.

Pros:

• Enhances efficient energy use

• Robust design for uniform heat distribution

• Ideal for large-scale production due to its massive heat output

• Excellent thermal shock resistance

• High operating temperature

Industry Applications

The W type is a high-quality heating element used in various industry sectors that require exact temperature atmospheres. They are also preferred in high-output manufacturing of float glass, chemicals, and electronics. Its high purity and thermal resistance can be leveraged in the production of high-quality semiconductors.

4. DM-Type Silicon Carbide Heating Element

The DM-type silicon carbide heating element features a unique but well-thought structure for intricate temperature requirements. While the concept is similar to other types of heating elements, the DM type’s configuration is meant to serve delicate industry processes that have exacting temperature requirements.

Hence, it is curated to provide heat specifications for highly demanding industry processes where slight heating alterations could greatly impact production. The DM type’s heating part is a hollow tube with thickened ends, which is hard and brittle. It’s carefully designed to provide high-temperature control precision and little-to-no temperature fluctuations.

Pros: 

• High temperature accuracy

• Thermal shock resistance

• Convenient wiring for uniform heat distribution

• Resistance to rapid temperature changes

Industry Applications

The DM type’s high-temperature precision control is applied in laboratory furnaces for research and material testing. As such, it is leveraged for accurate scientific theses. Besides, DM type is used in the petrochemical sector in high-temperature processes such as catalytic cracking and steam reforming.

5. SCR-Type Silicon Carbide Heating Element

The SCR-type silicon carbide heating element features a technical U-shaped design for demanding industry usage. The U-shaped structure enhances the carbide rods’ energy efficiency and temperature precision for high-quality production outcomes.

The rods heat up rather quickly and have high thermal resistance, with a working temperature that reaches up to 1,500°C. The rods are also resistant to chemical corrosion and temperature fluctuation deformation. Hence, they can meet your production needs for a long time.

Pros:

• High working temperature

• Easy installation

• Long service life

Industry Application

For its high thermal resistance, the SCR-type silicon carbide heating element is ideal for high-temperature ceramic and glass kilns. It is used to fire ceramics, glass, and pottery, where extremely high temperature conditions, equal heat distribution, and temperature control precision are needed.

6. GC-Type Silicon Carbide Heating Element

The GC-type silicon carbide heating element features a rigid, robust structure specifically designed for extreme industry needs. You have a tubular silicon carbide heating rod with thickened ends to enhance rigidity in extreme conditions. This structure also favors demanding industry needs, including high temperature, chemical production, etc.

Pros:

• High temperature stability

• Chemical resistance

• Long service time

• High purity and stability

Industry Applications

This high-quality heating element is ideal for glass manufacturing where a high yet consistent heating profile is needed to perfectly handle molten glass. The GC-type is also leveraged in the chemical and electronics industries. As a high-stability and high-purity element, the rods can be used in diffusion furnaces in the production of semiconductors.

Common Features of the 6 Best Types of Silicon Carbide Heating Elements

They are made of high thermal-resistant silicon carbide rods. Hence, they are characteristically resilient in high temperatures and chemicals.

While SiC heating elements come in different shapes, they all feature hollow tubes as the heating part, which have high thermal resistance. Hence, they have a high operating temperature range of 1,350 - 1,600°C.

These high-quality heating elements come with well-calculated designs and are robust, featuring a 3.2 g/cm3 density. Their structures are designed to meet high-end industry needs like large-scale heat production, high temperatures, and uniform heat distribution.

SiC heating elements are also as hard as to rank 9.5 on the Mohs scale. As such, they can be applied in high-demand manufacturing processes.

With such high-end heating elements, you have long, continuous uptime without deforming the rods. This is regardless of exposure to chemicals or high heat.

Differences Between the 6 Best Types of Silicon Carbide Heating Elements

Conclusion

The above list applies to the current technology, which is bound to change. However, it’s a testament to how far technology has come and how much progress scientific research has helped us achieve as a generation. On the other hand, producers are hopping into the field. As many as manufacturers may be, you want a silicon carbide rod producer that prioritizes quality over pricing. Gorgeous.com is a good place to start with, where all your ceramics needs are solved singlehandedly.