The Overlooked Power of Silicon Carbide: Traditional Applications You Should Not Ignore

For years, Silicon Carbide (SiC) has been in the spotlight for its role in next-generation semiconductors, powering electric vehicles, 5G base stations, smart grids, and high-temperature electronics.
But beyond these high-tech domains, SiC has served as an indispensable industrial material for more than a century. This article revisits the traditional—but still extremely important—applications of silicon carbide, especially in metallurgy, refractories, abrasives, and industrial ceramics.

With the global push for advanced manufacturing, these conventional applications remain the backbone of the silicon carbide industry and continue to grow steadily.

What Is Silicon Carbide?

Silicon Carbide (SiC) is a synthetic polycrystalline compound produced by smelting silica sand, petroleum coke, and wood chips in an electric resistance furnace. The process forms two primary structures:

• α-Silicon Carbide (Alpha SiC)
  Commonly found in black SiC and green SiC, it is mainly used for abrasives and refractory materials.

• β-Silicon Carbide (Beta SiC)
  Known for its excellent sintering properties, β-SiC is widely used in advanced ceramics, including kiln furniture, seals, bearings, and semiconductor substrates.

4 Traditional Applications of Silicon Carbide That Still Matter Today

Although SiC is gaining popularity in high-tech fields, its traditional uses remain crucial across multiple heavy industries.

1. Silicon Carbide in Steelmaking

Key functions: Deoxidiser • Purifying agent • Alloy modifier

Silicon carbide has become a preferred choice for modern steel mills thanks to its efficiency and cost-effectiveness. When added to molten steel, SiC dissolves rapidly and reacts with oxygen to form CO gas and slag. This reaction:

• Shortens deoxidation time

• Lowers power and raw material consumption

• Improves steel purity and tapping temperature

• Reduces furnace lining erosion

• Enhances overall steel output and stability

Compared with traditional ferrosilicon or silicon-carbon powder, SiC is more stable, reacts faster, and offers the lowest cost per silicon unit. Its carbon content also helps adjust carbon levels in the melt without dust pollution, improving the working environment.

For many steel producers, silicon carbide has become a new-generation deoxidising material that delivers both economic and metallurgical advantages.

2. Silicon Carbide in Refractory Materials

Key advantages: Low thermal expansion • High thermal conductivity • Excellent thermal shock resistance • High-temperature strength

Because of its exceptional properties, SiC is a cornerstone material in the refractory industry. Depending on the bonding phase, SiC-based refractories include:

• Oxide-bonded SiC

• Nitride-bonded SiC

• Self-bonded SiC

• Siliconized reaction-sintered SiC

Al₂O₃–SiC–C Castables for Blast Furnace Tapholes

Since the late 1990s, Al₂O₃–SiC–C castables have become a standard solution in tap channels of large blast furnaces worldwide. These refractories:

• Resist iron and slag corrosion

• Handle severe thermal cycling

• Offer long service life and stable tapping performance

Widespread Industrial Use

SiC-containing refractories are widely used in:

• Iron and steel: tapholes, pretreatment linings, cupola and induction furnace linings

• Waste incinerators: combustion chambers and tube protection linings

• Cement kilns: preheater linings

• Thermal power plants: cyclone separators and CFB boilers

• Ceramics industry: kiln furniture, firing plates, and nozzles

In each application, silicon carbide’s thermal shock resistance and chemical stability significantly extend refractory service life.

3. Silicon Carbide as an Abrasive Material

Silicon carbide is renowned for its extreme hardness, surpassed only by diamond. Its abrasion resistance is 5–20 times higher than cast iron or rubber, making it a premium abrasive.

Green SiC

Used for precision grinding of:

• Cemented carbide tools

• Titanium alloys

• Optical glass

• High-speed steel honing and finishing

Black SiC

Ideal for:

• Grinding cast iron

• Cutting and polishing ceramics and stone

• Manufacturing grinding wheels and cutting discs

Cubic SiC (Super Abrasive Grade)

Used in ultra-precision grinding, such as:

• Micro bearing finishing

• Aerospace components

• Wear-resistant turbine coatings

Coatings containing SiC powder dramatically increase the service life of components such as internal combustion engine cylinder walls.

4. Silicon Carbide in the Semiconductor Industry

SiC has earned its reputation as a semiconductor that thrives in extreme environments. Unlike traditional silicon wafers, SiC devices can operate at:

• Temperatures exceeding 500–600°C

• High voltages

• High radiation environments

These advantages make SiC indispensable in:

• Electric vehicle power modules

• High-frequency communication equipment (5G/6G)

• Aerospace and aviation electronics

• High-temperature sensors

• Smart grid converters

SiC wafers are considered one of the most promising materials for the future of power electronics.

The Industry Is Transforming — From Raw Material to High-Value Products

While SiC has long been used in steelmaking, refractories, and abrasives, these segments traditionally carry lower added value. Today, new policies and industrial demand are pushing the entire sector toward high-purity, high-performance SiC products.

China’s Made in China 2025 initiative and national 5-year plans have identified silicon carbide as a strategic industry. Leading companies in power electronics—State Grid, CRRC, BYD, Huawei—are accelerating their investment in SiC semiconductors and ceramics.

The future of the industry lies in:

• High-purity SiC powder

• SiC ceramic components

• SiC wafers and epitaxy

• SiC coating and composites

• SiC for advanced power devices

The transformation from bulk raw material to precision-engineered SiC products marks a new era of growth.