The chemical combination of silicon and carbon is known as silicon carbide (SiC). It was first created using a sand and carbon electrochemical reaction at a high temperature. A remarkable abrasive, silicon carbide, has been manufactured and used in abrasive goods for more than a century. The substance has now undergone industrialization to become a superior technical-grade ceramic with mechanical qualities. It is employed in many high-performance applications, including abrasives, ceramics, refractories, and many more. In addition, its properties, such as a high force-to-weight radius, low thermal expansion, high thermal conductivity, resistance to abrasion and corrosion, hardness, and crucially, the ability to maintain elastic resistance at temperatures up to 1650 °C, have led to a wide range of applications. Due to all such factors, SiC powder is witnessing a huge demand in the market. According to OMR Research, the global SiC powder market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 16.1% during the forecast period of 2023–2029.
Segments of the Market
The global SiC powder market is segmented on the basis of product and application. On the basis of product, the market is sub-segmented into black SiC, green SiC, and others. On the basis of application, it is sub-segmented into energy, automotive, steel manufacturing, electronics and semiconductors, aerospace and defense, and others.
Recent Developments
Companies such as AGSCO Corporation, Entegris, Inc., Lanzhou Heqiao Resource Co., Ltd., Fuji Electric Co., Ltd., STMicroelectronics N.V., Sublime Technologies, Infineon Technologies AG, Wolfspeed, Inc., Electro Abrasives, Ingentec Corporation, Washington Mills, and others are contributing to the market’s growth with their technology innovations, collaborations with other markets, mergers, and others. Some of the recent activities in the market include:
• In March 2022, Equipmake, an electrification specialist, launched a next-generation inverter called the HPI-800, using the high power density of SiC. The inverter will assist in reducing the electric vehicle’s battery size by approximately 10%.
• In April 2022, ONSemi, a semiconductor manufacturing company, announced plans to expand its production capacity of SiC by fivefold. According to the company, over the next three years, SiC-related income will total over $4 billion due to long-term supply agreements with several clients. In addition, the sales of SiC are anticipated to quadruple in 2022 over 2021.
• In July 2022, ASM International, a Dutch semiconductor equipment maker, acquired LPE, a manufacturer of epitaxial reactors for SiC and silicon. LPE, located in Milan, has its sole other European location in Catania, where ST Microelectronics operates a main SiC fab and is constructing a new factory to make SiC wafers and devices from silicon powder using in-house technology obtained through the Norstel acquisition.
• In July 2022, Marelli, a global automotive supplier, developed a new platform of 800-volt SiC inverters, which will improve inverters’ size, weight, and efficiency. Owing to its characteristics, SiC is a popular choice to power electronics.
Conclusion
At present, SiC is the main raw material used to improve high-tech, modern industry, and modern warfare. In ceramic refining abrasives, diamond polishing wheels, and resin polishing wheels, SiC micron powder is widely used as an abrasive or filler. In addition, due to its beneficial properties, including toughness, high strength, wear resistance, and oxidation resistance, SiC micron powder is used in non-grinding applications such as refractory materials, engineering ceramics, and structural materials. These characteristics and applications of SiC powder drive the global market's expansion.
Furthermore, the rising demand for SiC semiconductors in electrical devices, including LEDs, detectors, and sensors; the growing usage of renewable energy sources for electricity generation since it is used in generating solar power; the increasing number of electric vehicle manufacturing facilities and demands; and the increased steel production are expected to significantly boost the market’s growth. Besides, companies are finding new ways to utilize SiC, which will increase its demand. For instance, USNC (Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation) uses SiC to fuel its micro modular reactor by replacing graphitic matrix with SiC (a refractory ceramic). Nuclear reactor cores must withstand some of the worst environmental conditions in all of industry, yet SiC offers unusual stability since it does not shrink or swell excessively, unlike the typical graphitic matrix, and it has a very high resistance to oxidation and corrosion. Such initiatives by market players and the increasing uses of SiC in various industries are opening up new opportunities for the market.