Silicon Metal Unveiled: Powering Modern Civilization With The...

Silicon Metal Unveiled: Powering Modern Civilization With The Unsung Hero Of The Earth's Crust

Posted 2024-03-11 12:43:58

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Introduction

Silicon is one of the most abundant elements found on earth, comprising about 25% of the earth's crust by weight. However, most people are unaware of the vital role that silicon plays in our daily lives. From electronics and solar panels to cement and other industrial materials, silicon metal is a key ingredient powering much of modern civilization.

What is Silicon Metal?
Silicon metal, also known as metallic silicon, is a raw material produced by reducing high purity quartz or sand with carbon in an electric arc furnace. It is a shiny gray metallic element with the chemical symbol Si. At its purest form, silicon metal contains more than 99% metallic silicon. However, commercial silicon generally contains around 98% silicon along with trace amounts of other elements like iron and aluminum. Silicon metal is a highly reactive substance and oxidizes quickly when exposed to air, forming silicon dioxide, commonly known as silica. Due to its high reactivity, silicon must be handled and processed carefully.

Major Uses of Silicon Metal

Electronics Industry
The electronics industry consumes the largest amount of silicon metal globally. Over 90% of the silicon produced goes into manufacturing semiconductors that power all digital devices such as computers, smartphones, and other consumer electronics. High purity Silicon Metal is refined and processed into pure silicon wafers which serve as the substrate for integrated circuits, microchips, and other semiconductor components. Without silicon metal, we would not have been able to develop the technologies we rely on today.

Solar Photovoltaic Industry
Solar photovoltaic or PV cells convert sunlight directly into electricity through the photovoltaic effect. Silicon plays a key role here as well - it is the most widely used material for manufacturing solar cells. Around 90% of all solar cells use crystalline silicon as the semiconductor material. Silicon ingots and wafers are produced from metallurgical-grade silicon and processed to form the active material in solar cells. With solar energy being a major renewable resource, silicon is vital for increasing our adoption of clean energy.

Aluminium Industry
After electronics, the aluminum industry is the second largest consumer of silicon metal, where it is used as a deoxidizing and degasifying agent. Pure aluminum contains too many oxide impurities and gases which can cause issues during casting and processing. Adding metallic silicon to the molten aluminum acts as a reducing agent that removes oxygen, yielding a purer aluminum suitable for various applications. Around 6% of all silicon produced goes into refining primary and secondary aluminum globally every year.

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