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:
| #553 | |
| Si: | ≥98.5% |
| Fe: | ≤0.5% |
| Al: | ≤0.5% |
| Ca: | ≤0.3% |
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.