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Elkem ASA

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Advanced materials are essential for modern industries. Silicon is a key raw material used by advanced technical ceramics manufacturers to create materials with special properties, such as resistance to abrasion and high temperatures. These materials often use com­binations of silicon carbide (SiC) or silicon nitride (Si3N4) in different forms.

Advanced technical ceramics and refractories are used in many ­areas, like for instance protective coatings for harsh environments. Their main features include high strength and toughness, thermal stability, controlled thermal expansion, thermal shock resistance and good thermal conductivity. Elkem, known for its silicon solutions, offers various grades and types of silicon to manufacture these advanced technical ceramics. Examples where silicon is used in tech­nical ceramics are kiln furniture, armor and ballistic protection, ceramic brake discs, heating elements and diesel particulate filters.

Combining silicon and carbon at high temperatures produces silicon carbide, which is very hard and used to make strong ceramic mater­ials. Silicon carbide can also be made by reacting silicon and carbon powders at high temperatures or silicon carbide powder, silicon, and carbon-based compounds to achieve specific properties for different uses. Silicon with finer particle sizes (typical below 150 µm) like ­Silgrain®, Silgrain®HQ, Silgrain®XC and Silperior® are commonly used in this process.
Silicon carbide (SiC) structures can also be formed through silicon infiltration, where liquid silicon reacts with solid carbon to create silicon carbide. The process requires silicon with high meltability, low fine particle content and low content of impurities. Elkem provides special grades such as Silgrain® HQ 0.2–0.8, Silgrain® CG 0.2–0.8, and Si-Tec for this method. Silicon carbide structures can also be made by mixing silicon carbide and silicon powder in a water-based slurry. Using slip casting, the slurry is shaped and dried to remove moisture. When heated, the silicon particles react with nitrogen to form silicon nitride, which bonds the structure. Elkem offers grades like Silgrain® XO, with less reactivity toward water, for this process. Elkem also offers products to produce Si3N4 materials through ­nitridation of Elkems silicon proucts.

Boron carbide (B4C) plays also an important role in high-perform­ance ceramics and advanced refractories due to its exceptional hardness, chemical inertness and thermal stability. In ceramics, it is widely used in ballistic armor systems, while in refractories, it acts as an antioxidant in carbon-bonded bricks and enhances durability in components like nozzles and slide gates.

Elkem delivers consistent material quality and partners closely with customers to develop tailored solutions for demanding ceramic and refractory applications. With a broad portfolio of silicon grades – ranging in purity, particle size, and reactivity – Elkem supports manufacturers with expert technical guidance, process optimization, and access to samples and commercial offers to accelerate development and production.


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