Silicon Metal

Silicon metal ( Si Metal) , also known as crystalline silicon or industrial silicon , is mainly used as an additive for non-ferrous alloys . Silicon metal is smelted from silica and carbonaceous reducing agents in a submerged arc furnace. It is an important industrial raw material . The main component is silicon , and other impurities are iron , aluminum, calcium , etc. Silicon metal can be used for steelmaking , cast iron, and aluminum ( production of aviation , aircraft and automobile parts). Industrial silicon is purified throught a series of processes to produce polycrystalling silicon and monocrystalline silicon for use in the photovoltaic industry and the electronics industry . Due to its wide application , silicon metal is known as the " salt " of modern industry . 

Silicon metal lumps are produced from quartz and coke in an electric heating furance . Quartz will undergo oxidation and reduction and become molten silicon liquid . Once cooled , it will turn into a solid as we can see . The chunks of raw silicon metal are very large . It is then made into smaller pieces , which we call standard sizes. The size of silicon metal lumps is 10-100mm , silicon metal powder ( particle size 100, 200, 325mesh). 

Silicon can be alloyed with other metals to enhance its metallic properties . Alloys made of silicon mainly include silicon aluminum alloy , silicon copper alloy, ferrosilicon alloy , silicon mangancese alloy , etc. the presence of silicon elements in silicon-aluminum alloy can improve the fluidity of the alloy , reduce the tendency of hot cracking . reduce porosity , and improve air tightness. This type of alloy has good corrosion resistance and moderate machinability , has medium strength and hardness , and has low plasticity. It is used to manufacture castings with low and medium strength and complex shapes , such as cover plates , motor casings , and brackets. etc., also used as brazing solder. 

 Silicon metal composition

*Other chemical compositions and sizes can be supplied upon request.

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 Advantages of silicon metal

Silver gray or dark gray, with metallic luster, high melting point, good heat resistance, high resistivity, and ultra-high oxidation resistance.

Silicon metal classification

Metal silicon is usually classified according to the content of the three main impurities of iron, aluminum, and calcium contained in the metal silicon component. According to the content of iron, aluminum, and calcium in metallic silicon, metallic silicon can be divided into different grades such as 553, 551, 441, 421, 3303, 2502, 2202, and 1101.

Silicon metal uses

1. Refractory Widely used in refractory materials and powder metallurgy industries to improve their heat resistance, wear resistance and oxidation resistance.

2. Metallic silicon can be used as an alloying element additive and is widely used in low-alloy structural steel, spring steel, shaft steel, heat-resistant steel and electrical silicon steel, etc. Silicon metal is often used as a reducing agent in ferroalloy production and the chemical industry.

3. Metallic silicon can be used to produce organic silicon and semiconductor materials, as well as to prepare alloys for special purposes.

4. Metallic silicon is made into single crystal silicon. As an important raw material for integrated circuits and electronic components, it is widely used in high-tech fields.

5. In the metallurgical casting industry, metallic silicon is used as a non-ferrous alloy additive and silicon steel alloy agent to improve the hardenability of steel.

6. Silicon 553 and silicon 441 are mainly used in the production of aluminum ingots. Adding metallic silicon to aluminum alloys can make them strong and lightweight.

Silicon metal manufacturing process

Industrially, it is usually produced by reducing silica with carbon in an electric furnace. Chemical reaction equation: SiO2 + 2C → Si + 2CO

Mix silica with a SiO2 content of about 95% and coke with a low ash content, and heat it to about 1900°C for reduction. The silicon produced by this method has a purity of 97% to 98% and is called metallic silicon. The metallic silicon is then melted and recrystallized, and impurities are removed with acid to obtain metallic silicon with a purity of 99.7% to 99.8%. If it is to be made into silicon for semiconductors, it must be converted into a liquid or gas form that is easy to purify, and then polycrystalline silicon can be obtained through distillation and decomposition processes. If high-purity silicon is to be obtained, further purification is required.

Why Choose Si Metal Producer Time International DMCC?

1. Time International DMCC is a silicon metal producer with mature experience in the silicon metal industry.

HS has the right to import and export independently, and its silicon metal products are exported to Japan, South Korea, India, the Middle East and other countries and regions. Our company’s industrial silicon products have passed ISO9001:2015 quality system certification, SGS international certification, standardized management system and systematic quality control system to create many high-quality silicon metal products.

2. Time International DMCC has silicon metal price advantage.

HS is located in China, the world’s major silicon production country, and has unique advantages in resource integration. Coupled with the advantages of the region’s power resources and low raw material costs, the silicon metal price produced by HS is more competitive.

3. Time International DMCC has a complete range of metal silicon products and supports customization.

HS can produce different grades of industrial silicon. At the same time, there are also different categories and different particle sizes of silicon metal powder. And support the customization of silicon metal blocks, silicon metal particles and silicon metal powder products according to customer needs.