Silicon carbide: all about this serendipitous discovery

So many important discoveries that we know about today were serendipitous discoveries, which means they were all discovered accidentally. For example, microwave discovery, X-ray, pacemaker, cereal, etc. We all agree that we are grateful for those accidents. Some of these discoveries have made our lives easier or have properties that have been shown to be beneficial to us. One such discovery is silicon carbide (SiC). It is a compound of silicon and carbon.

This compound has been used for almost a hundred years. It is an important substance for sandpaper, cutting tools, etc. It has other applications that have increased in recent times. For example, SiC is used in: light-emitting diodes, industrial furnaces, even rocket engines, etc. Let us know more about this compound.

Compound history:

The American inventor Edward G. Acheson in 1891 discovered silicon carbide by accident. I was trying to produce artificial diamonds. He heated a mixture of clay and coke powder in an iron bowl, where the bowl and a charcoal arc served as electrodes. Bright green crystals were found adhering to the carbon electrode. The new compound was as hard as a diamond and was called Carborundum. The name of the production process was called the Acheson process.

Eureka!

It was an amazing and important discovery. Acheson was able to form a substance that was hard enough to cut glass. This compound was initially used to polish gems. This new product was easily obtained from raw materials that were available at an economical price. Therefore, these could be produced in large quantities. Soon, it became an important industrial abrasive (an abrasive is used to polish or clean hard surfaces). Who thought an accident would provide the world with an important discovery?

Silicon Carbide Properties:

– It has low density and high resistance.

– Resistant to high temperatures.

– Resistant to thermal shock.

– Resistant to wear and tear.

– Exceptional chemical resistance.

– Low thermal expansion.

– High thermal conductivity.

Silicon Carbide Applications:

– It is used in abrasive and cutting tools. It is a very popular abrasive and is made of inexpensive materials, it is very durable.

– It is used in the production of structural material. For example, oven furniture and accessories, trauma plates on ballistic vests, etc.

– Used in auto parts such as ceramic brake discs.

– Used in electrical systems.

– Power electronic devices are another application of SiC. Since SiC exhibits the properties of a semiconductor, it is used in high-voltage devices.

– LEDs that are based on the phenomenon of electroluminescence, were based on SiC.

– SiC is a desirable mirror material in the astronomical telescope.

– Used in heating elements.

– Used as a heterogeneous catalyst support.

– SiC has application in nuclear fuel particles. It is an important material in TRISO coated fuel particles.

– Used for the production of graphene.

– It acts as a fuel for the manufacture of steel.

These applications mentioned above are some of the ways that silicon carbide can be used. Although Acheson accidentally discovered SiC, it turned out to be a very useful compound for the industrial sector as well as in the field of science. What you think?