Silicon carbide (SIC) is an unusual material with unique properties when compared to the other WBG members.
These qualities make SiC an attractive material choice for industrial furnace heating elements used in high-temperature applications like metal heat treatment, glass production and ceramic manufacturing, metallurgy machinery manufacturing and semiconductor fabrication.
High Temperature Resistance
Silicon carbide (SiC) is an extremely hard and dense synthetic crystalline compound of silicon and carbon (SiC). First mass-produced as refractory material in the late 19th century for use as an abrasive material, SiC became widely known during the 1930s when used as wear-resistant parts on pumps and rocket engines; today it also used in high temperature furnaces, refractory linings, semiconducting substrates for light emitting diodes, as well as wear resistant parts on pumps and rocket engines – among others!
Sic heating elements are designed for environments up to 1000degC. When operating at these temperatures, their surface may oxidize due to oxygen present in the environment; the rate of oxidation depends on both temperature and atmosphere, with higher temperatures leading to faster oxidation rates. Once complete, recrystallization takes place which reduces resistance by decreasing connection points between larger grains reducing resistance levels in turn lowering resistance of resistance element.
Due to their ability to withstand high temperatures and harsh environments, SCR type SiC heating elements have become widely utilized across a range of heat treatment and metal processing industries. Common applications for SCR heating elements are in heat treatment furnaces for processes like annealing, tempering, carburizing as well as ceramic and glass manufacturing in kilns; their durable durability also makes them great for handling molten glass efficiently in lab settings for experiments or high-temperature research projects.
High Strength
SiC is known for having greater hardness than Si, making it capable of withstanding greater stresses without deformation or rupture, as well as higher flexural and tensile strengths than Si. Furthermore, SiC provides excellent chemical resistance against acids, alkalis and solvents compared to its Si counterpart.
SIc elements’ low expansion coefficient, high abrasion resistance and rigidity make them the perfect choice for heat treatment furnaces. Sic elements are used in processes such as annealing, tempering and carburizing which require precise heating in order to achieve specific metallurgical properties in treated material.
Care must be taken in selecting elements designed and installed into hostile and corrosive environments, particularly standard EREMA bar type elements that could become damaged from volatile chemicals generated during heating processes, due to oxidation of SiC structures causing resistance increases and shortening life expectancies.
TKK has designed their SE type element specifically to withstand aggressive environments, with special coating throughout its SiC structure rather than only on its surface – saving time and money by eliminating production loss due to damaged parts being replaced with these elements.
Low Thermal Conductivity
Thermal conductivity of materials, which measures their ability to transfer heat through molecular agitation and contact, varies based on both temperature and structure. Good thermal conductors include materials that easily move heat from point to point such as metals and certain ceramics; poor conductors serve as insulators which slow heat transference. As its thermal conductivity increases so does energy transference – however high thermal conductivity requires strong materials with stable structures.
Graphite boasts an exceptionally low thermal conductivity while remaining tough enough to withstand high temperatures and chemical exposures. Furthermore, its low thermal expansion rate makes it suitable for environments where corrosive gases exist or when maintaining maximum element temperature (MET) requirements are paramount.
Thermic Edge offers a selection of standard Silicon Carbide coated graphite elements suitable for oxygen and high vacuum environments up to 1400degC. Their power legs are protected from potential carbon/electric current interactions by being coated in silicon carbide to protect them against hot zones, providing insulation against potential reactions between carbon and the electric current.
EREMA sic elements are well known for their durability and reliability, making them the ideal solution for use in applications like glass manufacturing, petrochemical industry powder metallurgy powder metallurgy and environmental testing. Their high temperature capacity ensures that desired temperatures can always be achieved and maintained throughout an application.
High Resistance to Corrosion
SiC is a material with remarkable hardness and rigidity, combined with excellent thermal properties that makes it an excellent material for long-term electrical components. Additionally, its low coefficient of expansion and ability to withstand sudden temperature changes makes it especially suitable for use in high-temperature environments like those present during metal treatment processes, ceramic sintering processes or the production of glass and semiconductor materials.
As it maintains both its structure and thermal properties in the presence of corrosive gases, its resistance to corrosion is further strengthened, making it the perfect material choice for elements used in industries involving aluminum remelting remelt industries, steel reheating furnaces, soaking pits as well as environments containing metallic compounds in flue gas environments.
Silicon carbide offers a wide operating temperature range, and each silicon carbide element such as SC, H, DM and SCR types was engineered for specific industrial requirements. From uniform heating distribution in large industrial furnaces with SC Type elements to precise temperature control during advanced manufacturing processes with H Type elements; these elements were built for versatility and longevity.
SiC elements with GC or SCR type designation are often utilized in waste incineration applications due to their resistance against oxidation, corrosion and thermal shock as well as their exceptional durability and performance. They require very little maintenance or replacement over time due to their durability and great performance.
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