Silicon Carbide (SiC)
The annual production of silicon carbide (SiC) exceeds 800,000 t, making it by far the most used non-oxide ceramic. In the past it has been used almost exclusively as an abrasive material, which still accounts for a major part of its usage. The development of new processes for the production of dense components with favourable mechanical properties enabled new fields of application. Its extraordinary hardness, resistance to thermal shock and chemical stability, especially towards acids and alkalis, make SiC the material of choice for highly aggressive conditions. It is used as a refractory and for electric heating in furnaces. Sliding bearings that are exposed to corrosive media are often composed of SiC. Due to its high resistance against abrasion even at high temperatures carbon fibre-reinforced SiC is used for brake discs in high-speed trains and sports cars [SCH15].
Automotive Industry, Chemical Industry, Environmental Engineering, Food Industry, Pharmaceutical Industry & Medical Technology