Silicon Carbide
SiC Manufacturing Experts
Washington Mills manufactures CARBOREX® silicon carbide grains and powders made to your exact size, chemistry, and shape specification.
History of Manufacturing SiC
Washington Mills has sold silicon carbide products throughout much of its years in operation. The company began its own manufacture of silicon carbide in 1986 when it acquired the electro minerals business of The Carborundum Company which included a silicon carbide processing plant in Niagara Falls, New York. The Carborundum Company pioneered the commercial development of man-made silicon carbide in 1890 when Edward Acheson invented the process for the production of silicon carbide. Named after the inventor, the Acheson process continues to be the primary method for producing silicon carbide today. Washington Mills expanded its scope in silicon carbide manufacturing through the acquisition of the Exolon Company which included silicon carbide facilities in Hennepin, IL, Tonawanda, NY and Orkanger, Norway.
CARBOREX® Properties
Silicon carbide (commonly referred to by its chemical formulation of SiC) is a chemical compound comprised of silicon and carbon that results in extremely hard (9 on the Mohs scale) iridescent crystals. CARBOREX® grains and powders offer superior properties such as low density, low thermal expansion, oxidation resistance, excellent chemical resistance, high thermal shock resistance, high wear and hardness resistance, high strength, high temperature resistance and high temperature strength.
CARBOREX® Industries
Washington Mills manufactures CARBOREX® silicon carbide in various chemistries and sizes for an extensive list of industries and applications such as:
- Abrasive Blasting
- Anti-Slip
- Ceramic Matrix Composites
- Coated Abrasives
- Ceramics
- Grinding Wheels
- Lapping
- Filtration
- Insulation
- Metal Matrix Composites
- Metallurgical
- Refractories
- Wire Sawing
- Wear Resistance
Our team of silicon carbide experts are available to help you discover the possibilities associated with CARBOREX® silicon carbide grains and powders.
SiC Production Process
The silicon carbide manufacturing process can be divided into two general steps: the production of SiC crude (generally, SiC lumps having a diameter of 3/8 inch or more) and the crushing and grading of the silicon carbide crude into finished sizes of grains and powders for sale to customers.
Silicon Carbide Manufacturing Experience
Washington Mills is ready to supply CARBOREX® grains and powders for demanding applications.