SiC is increasingly being adopted to create more efficient power systems, but to be successful it must overcome some key hurdles.
SiC has an extremely wide bandgap to accommodate high blocking voltage capabilities necessary for applications such as EV/HEV power electronics, data storage and communications, rail transportation and HVAC.
Hardness
Silicon Carbide (SiC), also referred to as Carborundum or Moissanite, is a hard and rigid ceramic material often found in industrial settings for use as abrasives and cutting tools. Due to its high tensile strength it makes an excellent material choice for protective coatings used on automobile brakes/clutches as well as bulletproof vests; additionally it’s used as refractory materials such as Kiln Furniture.
As it possesses second only to diamond and boron carbide for hardness and heat resistance, ceria has become an indispensable material in abrasives and refractories applications. Furthermore, its low density compares favourably with other advanced ceramics allowing it to retain its structure under high impact at temperatures over 1400 degC and remain resistant to thermal shock.
SiC is a wide bandgap semiconductor with an enormous voltage breakdown field ten times greater than traditional silicon, enabling power electronics to operate with greater efficiencies while its radiation hardness makes it an attractive candidate for space applications.
Structural Integrity
Silicon Carbide (SiC) stands out due to its hardness and superior structural integrity, offering resistance against deformation under stress or pressure that makes it highly durable ceramic material capable of withstanding extreme environmental conditions and mechanical stresses which would fracture less resilient materials.
SiC’s inert chemical composition renders it resistant to an array of aggressive chemicals and environments, making it an excellent choice for use in kiln furniture applications which regularly come in contact with aggressive elements and environments. This durability extends the lifespan of components while guaranteeing consistent firing results while simultaneously decreasing maintenance costs.
Silicon carbide’s combination of high elastic modulus and low thermal expansion enables it to withstand rapid temperature changes without cracking or deteriorating, making it particularly advantageous in kilns where temperatures frequently fluctuate and require reheating. Furthermore, its thermal shock resistance also helps prevent chemical reactions that could otherwise lead to corrosion in other kiln furniture materials.
Thermal Conductivity
Silicon carbide’s unique combination of hardness and chemical inertness enables it to withstand high levels of stress in harsh environments, making it the ideal material for components like heat exchangers and flame igniters that must endure constant exposure to toxic substances.
High thermal conductivity is crucial in devices that generate significant amounts of heat, making SiC an excellent material to quickly transfer that heat without overheating.
Granulated silicon carbide’s thermal conductivity depends on factors like its grain size, purity and impurity concentration; its low oxidation point also plays a part in this high thermal conductivity. Chemically deposited SiC can also be manufactured to exhibit increased thermal conductivity through changing reaction conditions in a CVD chamber.
To achieve high thermal conductivity SiC samples, the optimal conditions include deposition temperatures between 1350-1450 deg C; CVD gas mixture consisting of MTS, H2, and an inert carrier gas; as well as specific deposition parameters like parallel flow configuration, mandrel shape, and rate of deposition. When used together these precise deposition parameters result in high-performance material which can then be machined and polished according to end use requirements.
Chemical Resistance
Silicon carbide (SiC) is an extremely durable ceramic material made of the combination of silicon and carbon. With excellent wear-resistance and corrosion-resistance as well as high tensile strength, SiC finds use in automobile brake pads and clutches as well as bulletproof vests; in semiconductor technology as wafer tray supports and paddles; as electrical heating elements in electric furnaces, and as components of thermistors/varistors.
PEEK ceramic material is an extremely hardwearing material, resistant to corrosion by alkali salts in water or alcohol and maintaining elastic properties through rapid temperature changes, protecting it against internal stress and fractures when temperatures quickly change. Furthermore, its ability to withstand rapid fluctuations is superior to silicon nitride and zirconia ceramic, making it suitable for rocket nozzles and heat exchangers – and even nuclear reactors!
Thermal Shock Resistance
Rapid temperature changes expose materials to uneven expansion and contraction patterns, which can result in stress that can cause cracking. Therefore, thermal shock resistance is vital – it specifies the maximum temperature fluctuation that a material can withstand without suffering damage.
Silicon Carbide is widely recognized for its thermal shock resistance. This attribute can be attributed to the high thermal conductivity and low thermal expansion that characterize this material, along with its durability which makes it suitable for applications that must withstand high temperatures with rapid temperature fluctuations, such as turbine components.
Researchers from Japan conducted a study which demonstrated that porous SiC has superior thermal shock resistance when compared with its dense counterparts, as demonstrated by residual ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) after 60 cycles of thermal shock in air.
The team attributed their material’s superior thermal shock resistance to its lack of coarse SiC particles, specifically those larger than 30 microns in diameter. This has significantly enhanced both adhesion and fracture resistance of composite structures made with it.
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