Silicon Carbide Heating Elements

Silicon carbide (SiC) is an extremely hard and crystalline substance found naturally only in very limited amounts as moissanite gemstone. Most SiC is now produced synthetically via electric arc furnaces using mixtures of silica sand and carbon coke as its raw materials.

Globar silicon carbide heating elements are designed for use in high temperature electric furnaces and other electric heating equipment used by industries of magnetic materials, ceramics, glass and powder metallurgy. Their features include their high operating temperature resistance against corrosion and oxidation as well as long service life with minimal deformation while being easy to install and maintain.

Hardness

Silicon carbide can withstand high temperatures while remaining mechanically sound, making it the ideal material for use in industrial furnaces and as reinforcement in bulletproof vests and ceramic plates due to its exceptional hardness, strength, and thermal shock resistance.

Industrially produced silicon carbide can be created through various techniques, including sintering, reaction bonding, crystal growth and chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Silicon carbide provides an exceptional combination of low density, stiffness, hardness and wear resistance as well as corrosion and chemical resistance and excellent thermal conductivity; furthermore it serves as an outstanding electrical insulator used extensively in applications like refractories, resistance heating systems, flame igniters and electronic components.

Due to its excellent durability, silicon carbide can be used in numerous applications including sintering furnaces. However, its longevity may be affected by oxidation; to increase durability it must first undergo conditioning with special treatments before use; such as applying Molybdenum Disilicide layers on its surface to increase surface area and boost its ability to resist oxidation for increased resistance against corrosion oxidation for increased lifespan over longer periods of time and temperatures. This creates longer-lasting and more reliable elements capable of withstanding higher temperatures for increased running times as well as higher temperature environments and longer periods without issues.

Corrosion Resistance

Molybdenum disilicide (MoSi2) and silicon carbide (SiC) are highly sought-after materials when producing high-temperature heating elements, due to their excellent oxidation resistance properties that allow them to form protective silica layers against harmful environments and extend element lifespan.

corrosion resistance is an integral component of durability in industrial settings. A high degree of corrosion resistance helps safeguard heating elements against wear that could otherwise cause premature failure due to abrasion and wear, helping prevent brittleness or failure and prolong their useful life.

Silicon carbide is an extremely hard and dense crystalline compound of silicon and carbon. Produced synthetically, this material finds use in applications ranging from sandpapers and cutting tools to semiconductor substrates for light emitting diodes (LED). Heat treatment applications often utilize silicon carbide furnace paddles or wafer tray supports or resistance heating elements for electric kilns.

Silicon carbide ages according to its operating temperature and amount of power being dissipated through it, with most manufacturers providing estimates based on maximum power output over an extended period. Formation of silica films on its surface also contributes to its aging, though specialized welding techniques that seal off an element with a conductive coating can prevent this corrosion-inducing film.

Thermal Conductivity

Thermal conductivity of materials depends upon both their molecular composition and distance traveled for heat to travel through, with greater thermal conductivity being achieved with more atoms or molecules located closer together in an area and shorter travel distances between atoms or molecules requiring them to move.

Silicon carbide boasts high thermal conductivity, making it an excellent material choice for heating elements. Indeed, silicon carbide boasts the highest conductivity among industrially manufactured ceramic materials; additionally, its lifespan exceeds two decades in continuous use.

As soon as a heating element begins operating, electrical energy is transformed into heat by Joule’s law: W = I2R (where power in watts, current in amperes and resistance are measured in ohms). This results in temperature increases proportional to applied voltage – therefore faster heating means greater voltage!

But it is important to keep in mind that the metallurgical structure of silicon carbide elements can shift over time, which in turn impacts their durability. Oxidation at grain boundaries of silicon carbides can cause erosion that leads to silica film formation that reduces resistance while shortening lifespan; another way durability may be affected is its capacity for handling cyclic applications.

Durability

Silicon carbide is an extremely resilient material capable of withstanding high temperatures, making it the ideal material for high-temperature heating elements. Furthermore, this durability helps prolong its service life and lower maintenance costs – both factors that play a crucial role when considering long-term heating solution efficiency and savings.

Silicon carbide material stands out for its exceptional durability thanks to being both abrasion-resistant and possessing low thermal expansion rates; these characteristics allow silicon carbide elements to bear higher loads than metallic counterparts even at elevated temperatures.

Silicon carbide offers many advantages that make it an excellent choice for electric-heating applications such as those found in kilns, furnaces and other high-temperature industrial processes. Silicon carbide stands out as an economical and durable choice when compared with molybdenum disilicide (MoSi2) which is also commonly used as heating elements.

Keith Company employs silicone carbide elements in many of its electric-heating furnaces and kilns for easy heating, such as furnaces with wide or long width requirements that cannot accommodate metal elements. They’re capable of handling higher operating temperatures and watt loadings than MoSi2 ones while remaining easy to change while hot.