In the fields of science and industry, material innovation has always been a key driver of social progress. Silicon carbide: a shining gem, evolving from an industrial abrasive to high‑tech applications.

Silicon carbide, also known as carborundum or silicon carbonitride, is a high‑tech refractory material widely used across various industrial sectors. Today, we turn our attention to silicon carbide (SiC), a material that plays a pivotal role in modern industry and is poised to assume an even more significant position in future technological advancements. As technology continues to evolve, the applications of silicon carbide have expanded far beyond its traditional uses—such as abrasives, wear‑resistant coatings, grinding tools, and advanced refractories—into an increasingly broad spectrum of cutting‑edge, high‑tech fields.

Silicon carbide, also known as carborundum or moissanite, is a material produced from quartz sand, petroleum coke (or coal coke), and wood chips (for the production of green silicon carbide).

Silicon carbide is produced by high‑temperature smelting in a resistance furnace, using raw materials such as quartz sand, petroleum coke (or coal coke), and wood chips (with the addition of common salt when manufacturing green silicon carbide). It is a non‑oxide, advanced refractory material. In nature, silicon carbide also occurs as the rare mineral moissanite. Although the naturally occurring mineral moissanite exists, synthetically produced silicon carbide, owing to its outstanding physical and chemical properties, has found widespread applications in industry. With its unique physical and chemical characteristics, this material has become an indispensable and critical component across numerous fields.

Silicon carbide ranks second only to diamond in hardness, with a microhardness as high as 2,840–3,320 kg/mm², thereby exhibiting excellent wear resistance and impact toughness.

Silicon carbide is characterized by high hardness, excellent wear resistance, and superior thermal stability, with a microhardness ranging from 2,840 to 3,320 kg/mm². These properties enable silicon carbide to find extensive applications in abrasives, wear‑resistant materials, and grinding tools. During high‑speed cutting, grinding, and polishing, silicon carbide effectively enhances machining efficiency, reduces tool wear, and improves product quality. Additionally, it has a specific gravity of 3.20–3.25 and can maintain favorable mechanical properties even at elevated temperatures.

In addition, silicon carbide boasts excellent thermal stability and oxidation resistance, enabling it to withstand high temperatures and extreme environments. This endows silicon carbide with a pivotal role in the advanced refractory materials sector. These properties make silicon carbide an ideal material across numerous industrial applications; in particular, its use in abrasives, wear‑resistant additives, grinding tools, and high‑grade refractories has become pervasive. In industries such as ceramics, metallurgy, and chemical processing, silicon carbide is extensively employed in the production of high‑temperature furnace linings, refractory bricks, crucibles, and other components, providing reliable technical support.

In the realm of abrasives and wear-resistant materials, silicon carbide’s exceptional hardness and wear resistance make it an ideal choice for manufacturing cutting tools, grinding tools, and abrasive materials.

In recent years, with continuous advances in technology, the application scope of silicon carbide has expanded further. Whether in metalworking, ceramic manufacturing, or glass processing, silicon carbide delivers durable and highly efficient grinding and cutting performance. In the new‑energy sector, it is used to produce substrate materials for solar cells, significantly enhancing their photoelectric conversion efficiency. Meanwhile, silicon carbide is widely employed in the fabrication of wear‑resistant coatings and components—such as wear‑resistant pumps, pipes, and valves—thereby improving equipment durability and extending its service life.

In the abrasive tools sector, silicon carbide is equally widely utilized. In the electronics and information technology fields, its excellent thermal and electrical properties make it a key material in the fabrication of integrated circuits, semiconductor devices, and other products. It serves as a primary raw material for grinding wheels, abrasive belts, and sandpaper, employed in the grinding and polishing of both metallic and non‑metallic materials. In the aerospace industry, silicon carbide’s lightweight nature, high strength, and superior high‑temperature stability render it ideal for manufacturing critical components of high‑performance aircraft, rockets, and other advanced vehicles. Silicon carbide abrasives, with their outstanding grinding performance and consistent quality, have earned widespread market recognition.

Meanwhile, the research and development as well as the application of green silicon carbide have also contributed to environmental protection.

In the field of advanced refractory materials, silicon carbide’s excellent high‑temperature stability and oxidation resistance make it an ideal choice for manufacturing equipment such as high‑temperature kilns, heat exchangers, and burners. During production, the addition of environmentally friendly additives like table salt can significantly reduce energy consumption and pollutant emissions, enabling green manufacturing. Silicon carbide refractories can withstand extreme temperatures without softening, effectively protecting equipment from thermal damage while lowering energy use and maintenance costs. This approach not only supports the sustainable development of the silicon carbide industry but also makes a positive contribution to global environmental protection efforts.

In addition, silicon carbide has also demonstrated tremendous potential in the field of advanced ceramics.

Looking ahead, as technology continues to advance and the applications of silicon carbide expand, the silicon carbide industry will enjoy even greater prospects for growth. We anticipate that silicon carbide will play an increasingly vital role across a wide range of fields, making a substantial contribution to technological progress and the enhancement of human quality of life. Fine ceramics, with their exceptional properties—including high strength, extreme hardness, superior wear resistance, and excellent chemical stability—have become indispensable materials in many cutting-edge technological domains.

In summary, silicon carbide, as an important high‑tech refractory material, has expanded its applications from traditional areas such as abrasives, wear‑resistant additives, grinding tools, and advanced refractories to a much broader spectrum of cutting‑edge technological fields. As one of the primary raw materials for advanced ceramics, silicon carbide offers a wealth of options for ceramic processing, thereby fostering innovation and growth in the ceramics industry. Its outstanding properties and wide-ranging applications not only provide robust support for the development of various industries but also make significant contributions to the progress and advancement of human society.