Carbothermic Reduction of Silica Process
This process is most widely used for the preparation of Silicon carbide powder in large volumes of commercial scale production. In this process a mixture of silica and carbon is allowed to react in a special furnace under argon atmosphere at a temperature of 1500.C. The reaction yields a super fine soft silicon carbide powder.
The excess free carbon is removed by a low temperature oxidation process at a temperature of 600.C by passing hydrogen gas.
This process directly yields soft and very pure fine crystals of silicon carbide powder and hence not required any other comminution process or any other chemical treatment.
To be contd……………..
