Acheson process
The Acheson process is an industrial process for producing graphite
. The process was patented in 1896 by Edward Goodrich Acheson.
The process involves:
- Heating a mixture of silicon dioxide (SiO2) and carbon in an iron bowl
- Reacting the mixture in an electric furnace at temperatures between 2,200°–2,480° C (4,000°–4,500° F)
- Producing silicon carbide, which loses silicon at 4150°C to leave graphite
The process is still used for the mass production of silicon carbide. It's a highly energy intensive process.
The process uses sand and petroleum coke as major raw materials. The mixture is surrounded by a graphite electrode
. A current flows through the electrode, generating heat and transforming the mixture into a cylinder of SiC.
Silicon carbide is also commonly known as Carborundum. It's a semiconductor material that's emerging for applications in semiconductor devices.