Silicon metal is widely used in metallurgy, chemical industry, electronics
and other industries. In the metallurgical industry, silicon is used as a
major non-ferrous alloy additives.Added to non-ferrous metals, silicon can
enhance the strength, hardness and wear resistance of the metal. To some
extent,it can enhance the performance of the casting and welding.
Silicon is a non-metallic element ,it is grey,
metallic color , hard and crisp. The total silicon
content is about 26% of the earth's crust;Its atomic
weight 28.80; density 2.33g/m3; melting point 1410
℃; boiling point 2355 ℃; resistivity 2140Ω.m.
Silicon metal is
widely used in the aluminum alloy industry and
aluminium profile industry.
Silicon in the chemical industry is mainly used to
produce silicon-based compounds such as silane,
silicone, organosilicon, silicone oil etc
Silicon is also widely used in the semiconductor,
ceramics, carborundum, silicon nitride area Silicon
metal is classified based on the content of iron,
aluminum, calcium which are listed as the primary
impurity, and the major types we can supply as
follows:
#441
Si:
≥99%
Fe:
≤0.4%
Al:
≤0.4%
Ca:
≤0.1%
Properties of Silicon Metal
Most metallurgical silicon metal is used as an alloying
agent in the aluminium industry due to its ability to
increase the strength of aluminium. Demand from the
aluminium industry has grown steadily in recent years due to
increased usage of aluminium in structural engineering,
aircraft manufacture and the automotive industry. Aluminium
alloys are lighter and more resistant to corrosion than
carbon-steel and can be made by addition of metals such as
copper, zinc, magnesium, manganese as well as silicon.
Production of Silicon Metal
On a commercial scale metallurgical silicon metal is
produced by the carbothermic reaction of silica (quartz) in
an electric arc furnace using carbon electrodes where the
temperature in the main reaction zone of temperatures
exceeds 1800șC. Commercially produced metallurgical grade
silicon metal is typically Si 98% pure and is notably
produced in China, Russia, Brazil, Norway, South Africa and
USA.
Silicon Metal Application Silicon metal is important to the electronic industry, as it is the base material used in the manufacture of high purity polycrystalline silicon. Silicon metal can also be the application for the aluminium alloy .Alloying agent (hardener) in iron and aluminum, the production of silicones, an addition to ceramics, welding rods, powder metallurgy, pyrotechnics, ammunition, ordnance, refractories, electronic substrates, cement, vapor deposition, plasma spray, chemical formulations, and grinding wheels. Futhermore ,Silicon metal is an important chemical structure material. Trichlorosilane is the silicon compound most commonly used as the intermediate, although silicon tetrachloride and silane are also used. When these gases are blown over silicon at high temperature, they decompose to high-purity silicon.
