What it is
Silicon metal is obtained from silica found in quartz, through reduction in submerged arc electrical furnaces, which could exceed 3.000o C, using charcoal and planted forest wood chips as reductant.
Applications
The silicon metal is used in the manufacture of more than 10.000 products, which are used in the industrial production and also by people in their daily lives. Its usage has been split in five major groups:
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Aluminum alloys
The aluminum alloys, produced from the silicon metal, are used for the manufacturing of automotive, aeronautics, naval, military and civil construction.
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Silicones
All the thousands of silicon products have in its constitution the silicon metal. As examples we should mention: silicone prosthesis, inks, and optical fiber.
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Solar Panels
Silicon metal is the most important material in the composition of solar cells, which constitute the solar energy intake panels, both household and industrial sphere. Silicon Metal is the element that allows the capture and conversion of solar energy into electrical energy.
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Semiconductors
Thin slices of silicon metal are the major starting material of chips, used in all the electronic equipment’s chain.
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Refractory materials
Silicon metal in composition with carbon forms silicon carbide, an extremely abrasive material, the major component of all products used in the abrasive industry, such as emery and refractory materials industry, with vast usage in the metallurgical and steel industries.