Silicone Carbide, Synthetic Diamond, Black Silicon Carbide, Green Silicon Carbide, Carborundum, 409-21-2
SILICON CARBIDE – SILICON CARBIDE
1. CHEMICAL IDENTITY AND DEFINITION
| Parameter |
Information |
| Chemical Name (IUPAC) |
Silicon Carbide |
| Other Names |
Carborundum, SiC Compound, Synthetic Diamond, Black Silicon Carbide, Green Silicon Carbide, Moissanite, Crystolon |
| Chemical Formula |
SiC |
| Molecular Weight |
40.10 g/mol |
| CAS Number |
409-21-2 |
| EC Number (EINECS) |
206-991-8 |
| Appearance |
Black (low purity) or green (high purity) crystalline powder |
| Odor |
Odorless |
| Physical State (20°C) |
Solid (powder / granules / crystals) |
| Chemical Class |
Carbide / Semiconductor |
2. WHAT IS SILICON CARBIDE (SiC)?
Silicon carbide (SiC) is an extremely hard and thermally stable compound obtained by the high-temperature synthesis of silicon (Si) and carbon (C). It is very rare in nature (as the mineral moissanite) and is produced industrially. It is widely used in industrial and engineering applications due to its near-diamond hardness, excellent thermal conductivity, chemical resistance, and semiconductor properties.
3. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
| Property |
Value |
| Appearance |
Black (low purity) or green (high purity) crystalline powder |
| Chemical Formula |
SiC |
| Molecular Weight |
40.10 g/mol |
| Density |
3.21 g/cm³ |
| Bulk Density |
1.3 – 1.5 g/cm³ (depending on particle size) |
| Melting Point |
~2,300 – 2,700 °C (decomposes) |
| Hardness (Mohs) |
9.0 – 9.5 (near diamond) |
| Hardness (Knoop) |
~2,500 – 3,000 kg/mm² |
| Color |
Black or green |
| Odor |
Odorless |
| Crystal Structure |
Hexagonal (wurtzite) / Cubic |
| Refractive Index |
2.65 – 2.69 |
4. CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
| Property |
Information |
| Chemical Formula |
SiC |
| CAS Number |
409-21-2 |
| EC Number |
206-991-8 |
| Chemical Purity (SiC) |
≥ 98.0% |
| Free Silica (SiO₂) |
None |
| Iron (Fe) |
≤ 0.5% (black), ≤ 0.1% (green) |
| Reactivity |
Very low; chemically inert |
| Acid Resistance |
Excellent |
| Base Resistance |
Good |
| Oxidation |
Slowly oxidizes above 800°C |
| Stability |
Very stable under normal conditions |
5. SiC POLYTYPE TYPES
| Polytype |
Crystal Structure |
Semiconductor Property |
Applications |
| 3C-SiC |
Cubic |
Narrow bandgap |
Abrasives |
| 4H-SiC |
Hexagonal |
Wide bandgap |
Power electronics |
| 6H-SiC |
Hexagonal |
Wide bandgap |
LEDs, semiconductors |
| 15R-SiC |
Rhombohedral |
Medium bandgap |
Specialty applications |
6. ELECTRICAL AND THERMAL PROPERTIES
| Property |
Value |
| Bandgap |
2.2 – 3.3 eV (depending on polytype) |
| Electrical Conductivity |
Semiconductor |
| Electrical Resistivity |
10¹⁰ – 10⁵ Ω·cm (depends on doping) |
| Thermal Conductivity |
50 – 100 W/m·K (temperature dependent) |
| Coefficient of Thermal Expansion |
4.0 × 10⁻⁶ /K |
| Specific Heat |
~750 J/kg·K |
| Dielectric Constant |
~9.7 |
| Electron Mobility |
~1,000 cm²/V·s |
7. SiC TYPES COMPARISON
| Property |
Black SiC |
Green SiC |
| Color |
Black |
Green |
| Purity |
98 – 99% |
> 99.5% |
| Hardness |
High |
Very high |
| Brittleness |
Moderate |
High |
| Abrasive Power |
Good |
Excellent |
| Applications |
General abrasives |
Precision grinding, electronics |
| Cost |
Low |
High |
8. APPLICATIONS
8.1. Abrasives and Blasting
| Application |
Description |
| Grinding Wheels |
Industrial grinding and cutting |
| Sandblasting |
Surface cleaning and roughening |
| Sandpaper |
Abrasive materials |
| Cutting Tools |
Cutting hard materials |
| Sharpening Stones |
Tool sharpening |
| Lapping |
Precision surface finishing |
8.2. Electronics and Semiconductors
| Application |
Description |
| High-Temperature Semiconductors |
Devices operating above 300°C |
| LED Technology |
Blue and UV LEDs |
| Power Electronics |
Schottky diodes, MOSFETs |
| RF Devices |
High-frequency applications |
| Sensors |
High-temperature sensors |
| Quantum Physics |
Research applications |
8.3. Automotive Industry
| Application |
Description |
| Brake Discs |
Ceramic brake discs (high performance) |
| Ceramic Armor |
Ballistic protection |
| Heat Shields |
Exhaust and engine heat protection |
| Bearings |
Wear-resistant bearings |
| Seals |
High-temperature seals |
8.4. Defense and Aerospace
| Application |
Description |
| Armor Coatings |
Ballistic armor |
| High-Strength Materials |
Structural components |
| Radar-Absorbing Materials |
Stealth technology |
| Space Applications |
High-temperature structures |
8.5. Industrial Furnaces and Heat Treatment
| Application |
Description |
| Furnace Linings |
High-temperature resistance |
| Heating Elements |
High-temperature furnaces |
| Crucibles |
Metal melting and casting |
| Refractory Materials |
High-temperature applications |
8.6. Other Applications
| Application |
Description |
| High-Temperature Ceramics |
Specialty ceramic parts |
| Mirrors |
Space telescope mirrors |
| Jewelry |
As synthetic gemstone (moissanite) |
| Catalyst Support |
Chemical reactions |
| Nuclear Industry |
Neutron shielding |
9. ADVANTAGES OF SILICON CARBIDE
| Advantage |
Description |
| High Hardness |
9.5 Mohs, hardest material after diamond |
| High Heat Resistance |
Withstands up to 2,700°C |
| High Thermal Conductivity |
Excellent thermal management |
| Low Thermal Expansion |
High dimensional stability |
| Chemical Resistance |
Resistant to acids and bases |
| Semiconductor Properties |
Wide bandgap |
| Wear Resistance |
Excellent |
| No Free Silica |
No silicosis risk |
| Reusable |
Low cost |
10. PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION (for Blasting)
| Grade |
Particle Size |
Applications |
| Coarse |
20 – 40 mesh |
Heavy surface cleaning |
| Medium |
40 – 60 mesh |
General blasting |
| Fine |
60 – 120 mesh |
Precision surface finishing |
| Very Fine |
120 – 240 mesh |
Polishing and lapping |
| Micronized |
< 20 μm |
Precision grinding |
11. RECOMMENDED USAGE RATES
| Application |
Recommended Ratio / Parameter |
| Blasting Pressure |
3 – 8 bar |
| Refractory Mixes |
10 – 40% |
| Abrasive Discs |
50 – 90% |
| Semiconductor Doping |
Depends on polytype and dopant |
| Composites |
10 – 60% |
| Armor Coatings |
30 – 70% |
12. SAFETY AND HEALTH INFORMATION
| Parameter |
Information |
| Hazard |
Low toxicity (inert) |
| Dust |
Inhalation may cause respiratory irritation |
| Free Silica |
None (no silicosis risk) |
| Skin Contact |
May cause mechanical irritation |
| Eye Contact |
May cause mechanical irritation |
| Ingestion |
Low toxicity |
| Carcinogenicity |
Not classified |
| Mutagenicity |
Negative |
| Acute Toxicity |
Very low |
12.1. FIRST AID MEASURES
| Route of Exposure |
Action |
| Inhalation |
Remove to fresh air. If respiratory irritation persists, seek medical attention. |
| Skin Contact |
Wash with plenty of soap and water. |
| Eye Contact |
Rinse thoroughly with water for at least 15 minutes. Seek medical attention. |
| Ingestion |
Rinse mouth. Drink plenty of water. Seek medical attention. |
13. STORAGE AND HANDLING
| Parameter |
Information |
| Storage Conditions |
Cool, dry, well-ventilated area |
| Container Requirements |
Tightly closed, original packaging |
| Protect From |
Excessive moisture, strong alkalis, hydrofluoric acid |
| Shelf Life |
Unlimited (with proper storage) |
| Dust Precautions |
Prevent dust formation; use respiratory protection |
14. TRANSPORT INFORMATION
| Parameter |
Information |
| UN Number |
Not regulated (not a hazardous material) |
| Hazard Class |
Not applicable |
| Packing Group |
Not applicable |
| ADR/RID |
Not regulated |
| IMDG Code |
Not regulated |
| IATA (Air) |
Not regulated |
| Marine Pollutant |
No |
15. PACKAGING OPTIONS
| Packaging Type |
Quantity |
Material |
| Kraft Bag |
25 kg |
Kraft + PE liner |
| Plastic Bucket |
5-25 kg |
HDPE |
| Big Bag |
500-1000 kg |
Polypropylene |
| Plastic Bag |
5-25 kg |
HDPE/LDPE |
| Aluminum Foil Bag |
1-5 kg |
Laminated aluminum |
| Steel Drum |
50-100 kg |
Steel |
16. REGULATORY STATUS
| Region / Authority |
Status |
| European Union (REACH) |
Registered substance |
| USA (EPA TSCA) |
Listed on TSCA inventory |
| Turkey |
Registered substance |
| China |
Listed on inventory |
| Japan (CSCL) |
Listed on CSCL inventory |
17. OTHER NAMES AND SYNONYMS
| Type |
Name |
| Turkish Names |
Silisyum Karbür, Karborundum, SiC, Yapay Elmas |
| English Names |
Silicon Carbide, Carborundum, SiC Compound, Synthetic Diamond, Moissanite, Crystolon |
| Trade Names |
Black Silicon Carbide, Green Silicon Carbide |
| CAS Number |
409-21-2 |
18. SUMMARY AND CRITICAL WARNINGS
Product Summary
| Parameter |
Value |
| Product |
Silicon Carbide (SiC) |
| CAS Number |
409-21-2 |
| Purity |
≥ 98.0% |
| Appearance |
Black or green crystalline powder |
| Hardness (Mohs) |
9.0 – 9.5 |
| Density |
3.21 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point |
~2,300 – 2,700 °C |
| Primary Applications |
Abrasives, electronics, automotive, defense |
CRITICAL WARNINGS
1. High Hardness: 9.5 Mohs hardness makes it the second hardest known material after diamond. Ideal for abrasive applications.
2. Thermal Resistance: Withstands up to 2,700°C. Suitable for high-temperature furnaces and refractory applications.
3. No Silicosis Risk: Contains no free silica (SiO₂). No risk of silicosis disease.
4. Semiconductor Properties: Wide bandgap (2.2-3.3 eV) suitable for high-temperature electronics and power semiconductors.
5. Reusability: Can be reused multiple times in blasting and abrasive applications. Reduces costs.
6. Chemical Resistance: Excellent resistance to acids and bases. Can be used in corrosive environments.
7. Black vs Green: Black SiC (lower purity) for general abrasives; Green SiC (high purity) for precision grinding and electronics.
8. Low Dust Generation: Advantageous for occupational health. Easier dust control.
9. Semiconductor Applications: 4H-SiC and 6H-SiC polytypes used in LEDs, MOSFETs, and Schottky diodes.
10. Automotive Applications: Ceramic brake discs provide wear resistance and heat resistance in high-performance vehicles.
11. Defense Applications: High strength in ballistic armor coatings.
12. Moissanite: Natural SiC mineral (moissanite) used as a synthetic diamond alternative in jewelry.
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: This Technical Data Sheet (TDS) is for informational purposes only and is prepared based on available technical data. The user is responsible for determining the suitability of the product for their specific application and for complying with all local, national, and international regulations. For complete safety, storage, use, handling, disposal, and regulatory compliance information, refer to the official Safety Data Sheet (SDS/MSDS) provided by the manufacturer/supplier. This document is not a substitute for professional or medical advice.
