8492. Silicon Carbide

Nomenclature

CAS number: 409-21-2
CSi; mol wt 40.10.
C 29.95%, Si 70.04%.
SiC.

Description and references

Made by heating coke and sand (and salt as flux) in electric furnace.

Properties

Exceedingly hard, green to bluish-black, iridescent, sharp crystals; hardness = 9.5. d 3.23. Dielectric constant: 7.0. Electron mobility: >100 cm2/volt-sec. Hole mobility: >20 cm2/volt-sec. Band gap energy: 2.8 ev.

Caution

Potential symptoms of overexposure are irritation of eyes, skin, upper respiratory system; cough. See NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (DHHS/NIOSH 97-140, 1997) p 278.

Use

Polishing glass, granite; smoothing bisque ware; in sharpening-stones; abrasive; manuf porcelain, “emery” paper and wheels, shoe soles, refractory brick, furnace linings; antiskid pavements; in semiconductor technology.