Silicon carbide is a semiconductor that can perform at high temperatures and provide electrical power. It is the world’s most efficient solid-state heat source for generating electricity from solar energy. It was first developed in Germany during World War II when scientists were looking for alternative fuel sources to power jet engines. Today, it is being used for everything from heating homes to powering vehicles.
Various Industries and Applications that use SiC Technology:
-Semiconductor industry: Silicon carbide is an ideal material for semiconductor manufacture because it has excellent electrical properties, which means that chips can run faster with less heat generation and breakdowns. It also means they dissipate less power when running at high speeds. This makes SiC an ideal material for power semiconductor devices such as diodes, transistors, and thyristors.
–Aerospace industry: Silicon carbide is used in the manufacture of jet engines to provide thermal protection during take-offs and landings. They are also used to protect military aircraft from surface-to-air or air-to-air missiles.
Automotive industry: SiC technology is being used to manufacture hybrid and electric vehicles batteries because it has a low internal resistance. As a result, less power is lost between source and cable, resulting in faster acceleration times with lower emissions. It also makes them lighter than nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) and nickel-cadmium (NiCad).
-Power generation: The high electrical conductivity of silicon carbide means that it is ideal for heating in power generation applications such as steam turbines, gas turbine generators, or molten salt reactors.
-Heating & cooking appliances: SiC is used for heating and cooking appliances because it can produce a very high level of heat that can be controlled and distributed evenly. This means faster, more efficient heating with reduced energy consumption.
-Industrial process heaters: In the same way, as for heating and cooking appliances, SiC is used in industrial applications such as furnaces or kilns to produce a very high level of heat that can be controlled and distributed evenly throughout the material being heated.
-Oil & gas industry: Oil refinery facilities widely use silicon carbide due to its ability to operate in high-temperature environments. They are used as combustion units that convert crude oil into various petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.
-Exploration & mining industry: Silicon carbide is widely used by the exploration and mining industries because it provides heat at very high temperatures in metal or ceramic processing. It is used for everything from sintering metal powders to melting rocks to extract valuable ores and minerals.
In conclusion, silicon carbide technology continues to be a major global industry that helps people live better lives in big and small ways.
