What is Metallic Silicon?
Metallic silicon is an industrial material usually produced by reducing silicon oxides (silica, SiO2) with carbon under high temperature. This process is usually carried out by a process called “Carbothermal Reduction”. In this process, oxides of silicon react with carbon (coal, coke, petroleum coke, etc.) and are reduced at high temperature to produce metallic silicon and carbon monoxide gas.
Metallic silicon is commonly used as a raw material in the metallurgical and chemical industries. It is widely used in the production of electrodes, in the making of alloys, in solar cells, in the electronics industry and in various other industrial applications. It is also of great importance in the semiconductor industry; silicon is one of the basic materials used in the production of modern electronic devices.
What Does Metallic Silicon Look Like?
Metallic silicon is a gray material with a metallic luster. It can usually be found in powdered or granular form. Pure metallic silicon can have a shiny appearance and is highly resistant to oxidation in air. Industrially used metallic silicon, usually in granule or powder form, can have different properties depending on the degree of purity and production methods.
How is Metallic Silicon-Silicon Produced?
Metallic silicon or silicon is usually produced by the reduction of silicon oxides. This process is usually carried out by a process called carbothermal reduction. Silicon oxide (silica, SiO2) reacts with carbon (such as coal, coke, petroleum coke) at high temperature. As a result of this reaction, silicon oxides are reduced with carbon to produce metallic silicon and carbon monoxide gas.
This process is carried out in industrial furnaces. Silicon oxide is reduced at high temperature in an environment with a high carbon content (usually using furnaces such as electric arc furnaces or rotary furnaces). This produces metallic silicon. The metallic silicon is then refined and purified by chemical processes to produce silicon.