Silicon Carbide Hardness

Silicon carbide (SiC) is an extremely hard synthetically produced crystalline compound with wide industrial applications. SiC ranks 9.5 on Mohs scale of mineral hardness – second only to diamond in this regard.

Ceramic fibers play an integral part in advanced refractory materials and functional ceramics, where they provide additional wear resistance through being coated or plated for additional wear resistance.

How Hard is Silicon Carbide?

Silicon carbide, also referred to as black silicon carbide and K-carbide, is a non-oxide ceramic material with exceptional strength, hardness, and chemical inertness. Composed of carbon atoms covalently bonded with silicon atoms in crystal lattices, silicon carbide exhibits polymorphism with various stacking sequences which give rise to cubic, hexagonal and rhombohedral crystal structures.

SiC is one of the hardest materials available, rated 9.5 on Mohs scale – second only to boron carbide (9.5) and diamond (10). It offers excellent wear resistance and is extremely difficult to break or damage; additionally it is capable of withstanding high temperatures making it suitable for industrial applications.

Aluminum oxide is widely used for its hardness, in abrasives for its wear resistance and in refractories and ceramics for its low thermal expansion and creep resistance, electronics due to its superior electrical properties as well as nuclear reactors due to its resistance to radiation damage.

Commercially, silicon carbide is produced via sintering, where powdered silicon and carbon are compressed together under extreme pressure into a solid mass. After being machined to shape into tubes or plates/blocks it may then be machined further for final applications in industrial process equipment as well as modern lapidary. Due to its durability and relatively inexpensive price point it remains popular choice among modern lapidaries.

What Are the Disadvantages of Silicon Carbide in Artistic and Craft Applications?

Silicon Carbide (SiC) is an extremely hard material with a Mohs scale hardness rating of 9 and has excellent thermal expansion properties, chemical resistance against acids and alkalis, high temperature tolerance as well as corrosion and thermal shock resistance. SiC also boasts very dense structures which make it dense yet robust materials to work with.

Moissanite can be found naturally as the rare mineral moissanite; however, since 1893 it has been mass-produced as both an abrasive powder form and as large single crystals for use as gemstones. Used extensively in hard-wearing industrial applications like grinding, cutting and machining as well as metal matrix composites where it acts as a ceramic binder to strengthen and stabilize parts, moissanite has proven itself a versatile component that makes life easier for manufacturers and engineers.

Silicon carbide stands out from its peers as an abrasive by not disintegrating when exposed to blasting or impact, making it particularly suitable for industrial sanding equipment such as wheels. Furthermore, rock tumbled jewelry makers use this abrasive with great success, as its sharp hard edges continuously expose new surfaces for grinding and smoothing purposes. Black silicon carbide is often preferred over green silicon carbide produced in an electrical internal resistance furnace for this use.

What are the Advantages of Silicon Carbide in Artistic and Craft Applications?

Silicon carbide’s combination of hardness, chemical inertness and thermal stability make it an excellent material choice for applications requiring resistance against wear and abrasion. It withstands corrosion, erosion and frictional wear effectively as well as boasting good dimensional stability and withstanding high temperatures without flaw.

Since corundum is relatively lightweight for its hardness, it can be used in abrasive applications without compromising ceramics strength. Furthermore, corundum makes an ideal abrasive that works well both wet and dry sanding; with various grit options it makes an excellent tool for deburring metal, polishing stone and marble surfaces and removing rust and deburring rust from metal components.

Silicon Carbide is well suited to electrical applications due to its low leakage currents and on-state resistance, making it an excellent material for producing semiconductor components such as diodes and transistors, in addition to other high voltage devices.

Silicon carbide is generally non-hazardous to handle; however, its dust can be toxic when inhaled during sanding or grinding processes; to minimize exposure during work with powdered silicon carbide it is wise to wear proper protective equipment and ventilate your working space properly. As it is also fragile and requires special care when cutting or shaping it with tools; especially important when used to create small detailed pieces like sculptures or jewellery.