{"id":14937,"date":"2023-03-27T12:16:03","date_gmt":"2023-03-27T10:16:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/?p=14937"},"modified":"2025-12-18T17:35:21","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T16:35:21","slug":"silicon-properties-and-applications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/silicon-properties-and-applications\/","title":{"rendered":"Silicon: Properties and Applications"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_73 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-white ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/silicon-properties-and-applications\/#Silicon_%E2%80%93_What_Is_It_and_Where_Does_It_Occur\" title=\"Silicon \u2013 What Is It and Where Does It Occur?\">Silicon \u2013 What Is It and Where Does It Occur?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/silicon-properties-and-applications\/#Properties_of_Silicon\" title=\"Properties of Silicon\">Properties of Silicon<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/silicon-properties-and-applications\/#Is_Silicon_a_Semiconductor\" title=\"Is Silicon a Semiconductor?\">Is Silicon a Semiconductor?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/silicon-properties-and-applications\/#Purity_Grades_and_their_Applications\" title=\"Purity Grades and their Applications\">Purity Grades and their Applications<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/silicon-properties-and-applications\/#Production_of_Raw_Silicon\" title=\"Production of Raw Silicon\">Production of Raw Silicon<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/silicon-properties-and-applications\/#Production_of_Solar-Grade_Silicon\" title=\"Production of Solar-Grade Silicon\">Production of Solar-Grade Silicon<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/silicon-properties-and-applications\/#Production_of_Semiconductor-Grade_Silicon\" title=\"Production of Semiconductor-Grade Silicon\">Production of Semiconductor-Grade Silicon<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/silicon-properties-and-applications\/#Applications_in_Metallurgy\" title=\"Applications in Metallurgy\">Applications in Metallurgy<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/silicon-properties-and-applications\/#Applications_in_Photovoltaics\" title=\"Applications in Photovoltaics\">Applications in Photovoltaics<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/silicon-properties-and-applications\/#Raw_Silicon_as_a_Base_Material_for_Silicone_Rubbers\" title=\"Raw Silicon as a Base Material for Silicone Rubbers\">Raw Silicon as a Base Material for Silicone Rubbers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/silicon-properties-and-applications\/#Silicon_on_the_Moon\" title=\"Silicon on the Moon\">Silicon on the Moon<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Without silicon, our modern daily life would look entirely different. It is found in every microchip but also in baking moulds, lubricants, cosmetics, and plastics: the element silicon.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Silicon_%E2%80%93_What_Is_It_and_Where_Does_It_Occur\"><\/span>Silicon \u2013 What Is It and Where Does It Occur?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Silicon is a chemical element with the atomic number 14, located in the third period and the 14th position of the periodic table. With four valence electrons, it belongs to group 14, also called the carbon group. Its symbol is Si. It is not to be confused with the term silicone, a family of silicon-based polymers. These silicon-based silicone rubbers are used, among other things, for manufacturing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/tubes-hoses\/tubing-made-of-elastomers-soft-rubber\/silicone-tubing\">silicone tubing<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/seals-and-gaskets\">seals<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><div class=\"box info  \"><div class=\"box-inner-block\"><i class=\"fa tie-shortcode-boxicon\"><\/i>\n\t\t\tIn nature, silicon occurs mainly in compounds with oxygen. Important representatives are silicon dioxide, from which quartz and sand are formed, and silicates \u2013 compounds of silicon, oxygen, and metals \u2013 found in slate, sandstone, clay, feldspar, and mica.\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In oceans, it exists as dissolved silicic acid. In the plant and animal kingdoms, silicon dioxide (SiO<sub>2<\/sub>) can be found in diatoms, sponges, radiolarians, bamboo, and horsetail plants. After oxygen, it is the second most abundant element on Earth.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8602\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8602\" style=\"width: 450px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-8602 size-full\" title=\"Pure, amorphous silicon dioxide\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/siliziumdioxid.jpg\" alt=\"Pure, amorphous silicon dioxide\" width=\"450\" height=\"475\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/siliziumdioxid.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/siliziumdioxid-284x300.jpg 284w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8602\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><center>Pure, amorphous silicon dioxide<\/center><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In everyday life, it is encountered not only as a component of microchips and photovoltaic systems but also in silicone rubbers that are processed into sealants, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/tubes-hoses\">hoses<\/a> for coffee machines, cookware, and baking moulds.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Properties_of_Silicon\"><\/span>Properties of Silicon<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The pure element is bluish to dark grey and shiny. It forms a passive silicon dioxide layer on its surface, making it insoluble in water and most acids. Only chlorine-containing acids and hydrofluoric acid can dissolve it. In hot alkaline solutions, silicates are formed.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">At very high temperatures, it reacts with carbon to form carbide (SiC), with nitrogen to form silicon nitride (Si<sub>3<\/sub>N<sub>4<\/sub>), and with sulfur to form silicon disulfide (SiS<sub>2<\/sub>). The element crystallises in a so-called diamond lattice, which accounts for its high hardness and brittleness.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_Silicon_a_Semiconductor\"><\/span>Is Silicon a Semiconductor?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the periodic table, it lies between metals and non-metals and is classified as a metalloid. Its electrical conductivity, at about 5\u00b710<sup>-6<\/sup>\u00a0S\/cm, lies between that of metals (&gt;10<sup>4<\/sup> S\/cm) and non-metals (&lt;10<sup>-8<\/sup>\u00a0S\/cm). It is, like germanium, an elemental semiconductor; others are compound semiconductors such as gallium arsenide or cadmium selenide, and organic semiconductors.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/tubes-hoses\/tubing-made-of-elastomers-soft-rubber\/silicone-tubing\/28684\/silicone-chemical-tubing-standard\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-8609 size-full\" title=\"Silicone Chemical Tubing - Standard\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/silikon-chemieschlauch-standard2.jpg\" alt=\"Silicone Chemical Tubing - Standard\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/silikon-chemieschlauch-standard2.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/silikon-chemieschlauch-standard2-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/tubes-hoses\/tubing-made-of-elastomers-soft-rubber\/silicone-tubing\/28685\/silicone-high-temperature-chemical-tubing\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-14950\" title=\"Silicone High-Temperature Chemical Tubing\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/silicone-high-temperature-chemical-tubing.jpg\" alt=\"Silicone High-Temperature Chemical Tubing\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/silicone-high-temperature-chemical-tubing.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/silicone-high-temperature-chemical-tubing-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/silicone-high-temperature-chemical-tubing-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Silicon offers advantages over other semiconductors because the raw material is inexpensive and widely available, and its surfaces can easily form oxides. This dioxide is an excellent electrical insulator. By introducing foreign atoms \u2013 a process known as doping \u2013 the conductivity of the element can be precisely controlled.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Purity_Grades_and_their_Applications\"><\/span>Purity Grades and their Applications<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Silicon is an important base material in metallurgy, photovoltaics, and microelectronics. Depending on the application, different purity levels are required.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">For metallurgical applications, a purity of 98\u201399 % is sufficient; this is referred to as metallurgical grade (abbreviated: Simg). In photovoltaics, silicon with a purity greater than 99.99 % is required (Sisg). For microelectronic applications, only ultra-pure semiconductor silicon is used, with a purity of at least 99.9999999 %. The designation is &#8220;electronic grade&#8221; (Sieg).<\/p>\n<article class=\"text-token-text-primary w-full focus:outline-none [--shadow-height:45px] has-data-writing-block:pointer-events-none has-data-writing-block:-mt-(--shadow-height) has-data-writing-block:pt-(--shadow-height) [&amp;:has([data-writing-block])&gt;*]:pointer-events-auto [content-visibility:auto] supports-[content-visibility:auto]:[contain-intrinsic-size:auto_100lvh] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]\" dir=\"auto\" tabindex=\"-1\" data-turn-id=\"request-WEB:69e24240-eac6-4454-a907-f9db8c459f0e-13\" data-testid=\"conversation-turn-28\" data-scroll-anchor=\"true\" data-turn=\"assistant\">\n<div class=\"text-base my-auto mx-auto pb-10 [--thread-content-margin:--spacing(4)] thread-sm:[--thread-content-margin:--spacing(6)] thread-lg:[--thread-content-margin:--spacing(16)] px-(--thread-content-margin)\">\n<div class=\"[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] thread-lg:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group\/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n<div class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col grow\">\n<div class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal [.text-message+&amp;]:mt-1\" dir=\"auto\" data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"b7c46110-c56b-4cb4-9098-807f68e9e386\" data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-5\">\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden first:pt-[1px]\">\n<div class=\"markdown prose dark:prose-invert w-full break-words light markdown-new-styling\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"258\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">In addition to its high purity, the element must also be present in monocrystalline form for this application, meaning an absolutely regular arrangement of silicon atoms within the crystal lattice. Furthermore, no foreign atoms may be present in the lattice.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Production_of_Raw_Silicon\"><\/span>Production of Raw Silicon<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The starting material for obtaining the element is silicon dioxide.<\/p>\n<div class=\"box note  \"><div class=\"box-inner-block\"><i class=\"fa tie-shortcode-boxicon\"><\/i>\n\t\t\tSiO2 is reacted with carbon in an electric arc furnace at high temperature. At about 1460 \u00b0C, oxygen is released and forms carbon monoxide with the carbon. The gaseous carbon monoxide can be easily separated from the reaction mixture.\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The remaining raw silicon can be used as an alloy component or for producing silicones. Further purification steps are required for photovoltaic use.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Production_of_Solar-Grade_Silicon\"><\/span>Production of Solar-Grade Silicon<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">A common purification method is the trichlorosilane process. In this process, raw silicon is reacted with hydrogen chloride at about 300 \u00b0C to form hydrogen and trichlorosilane (SiHCl<sub>3<\/sub>), which is then purified by distillation.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8604\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8604\" style=\"width: 450px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-8604 size-full\" title=\"Bluish-shiny monocrystalline solar modules\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/monokristalline-solarmodule.jpg\" alt=\"Bluish-shiny monocrystalline solar modules\" width=\"450\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/monokristalline-solarmodule.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/monokristalline-solarmodule-300x150.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8604\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><center>Bluish-shiny monocrystalline solar modules<\/center><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The purified trichlorosilane is then reacted with hydrogen at around 1100 \u00b0C in a quartz reactor containing heated thin silicon rods. This produces hydrogen chloride, silicon tetrachloride, and elemental silicon, which deposits on the rods. The diameter of these rods can eventually exceed 30 cm.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">This process yields polycrystalline material consisting of many irregularly arranged single crystals, suitable for manufacturing solar cells.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Production_of_Semiconductor-Grade_Silicon\"><\/span>Production of Semiconductor-Grade Silicon<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">For microelectronic applications, coils are placed around pre-purified silicon rods in a vacuum. When high-frequency alternating current is applied, the material melts internally and impurities sink to the bottom. This process is repeated until the required purity is achieved.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Using the so-called Czochralski process, monocrystalline silicon is produced from polycrystalline material. The polycrystalline feedstock is melted in a quartz crucible under a protective gas atmosphere. Dopants such as boron or phosphorus can be added to the melt. Above the melt, a rotating single crystal \u2014 the so-called seed crystal \u2014 is positioned so that it touches the surface. Silicon from the melt deposits onto the seed crystal, adopting its crystal structure. The crystal is then slowly pulled upwards at a rate between 2 and 25 cm\/h. From these ingots, which can be up to two metres long, thin slices called wafers are cut and further processed into microchips.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/tubes-hoses\/protective-and-insulating-hoses\/28707\/silicone-insulating-tubing\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-8612 size-full\" title=\"Silicone Insulating Tubing\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/silikon-isolierschlauch1.jpg\" alt=\"Silicone Insulating Tubing\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/silikon-isolierschlauch1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/silikon-isolierschlauch1-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/tubes-hoses\/tubing-made-of-elastomers-soft-rubber\/silicone-tubing\/28700\/silicone-pharmaceutical-and-pressure-tubing-with-fabric-insert-of-glass-silk\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-8613 size-full\" title=\"Silicone Pharmaceutical and Pressure Tubing with Fabric Insert of Glass Silk\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/silikon-pharma-druckschlauch.jpg\" alt=\"Silicone Pharmaceutical and Pressure Tubing with Fabric Insert of Glass Silk\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/silikon-pharma-druckschlauch.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/silikon-pharma-druckschlauch-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Manufacturing microchips is an extremely complex process. Producing microchips on a 300 mm wafer with conductor paths between 28 nm and 32 nm requires around 1500 process steps, taking roughly three months. Modern processors consist of more than one billion transistors and fit on an area smaller than a thumbnail.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Applications_in_Metallurgy\"><\/span>Applications in Metallurgy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Raw silicon is an important alloying component in metallurgy. In aluminium casting alloys, it improves casting behaviour as well as corrosion and wear resistance. The alloy silumin consists of about 87 % aluminium and 13 % silicon and is used for manufacturing engine and gearbox housings in the automotive, aerospace, and machinery industries.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In iron alloys, silicon increases scale resistance, tensile strength, and yield strength, and acts as a reducing agent. SiMo alloys, which contain around 2\u20133 % silicon and aluminium and about 1 % nickel and molybdenum, are special alloys used at temperatures up to 800 \u00b0C, for example in turbochargers, exhaust manifolds, and exhaust systems. Ferrosilicon, produced from iron ore and quartz, serves as a master alloy in steel and cast-iron production.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Applications_in_Photovoltaics\"><\/span>Applications in Photovoltaics<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Solar cells are made from both polycrystalline and monocrystalline material.<\/p>\n<div class=\"box info  \"><div class=\"box-inner-block\"><i class=\"fa tie-shortcode-boxicon\"><\/i>\n\t\t\tIn Europe, the majority of installed photovoltaic systems use polycrystalline materials. These have a slightly lower efficiency than monocrystalline ones but are considerably cheaper to produce, resulting in a favourable cost-to-performance ratio.\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Polycrystalline solar cells have a light, bluish surface. Monocrystalline cells can be recognised by their uniform dark colour and rounded corners, as they are cut from single-crystal silicon wafers. They are suitable when only limited space is available for power generation.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Raw_Silicon_as_a_Base_Material_for_Silicone_Rubbers\"><\/span>Raw Silicon as a Base Material for Silicone Rubbers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Raw silicon with a purity of at least 99 % and chloromethane (CH<sub>3<\/sub>Cl) serve as feedstock for silicone production. In the so-called M\u00fcller\u2013Rochow process, powdered silicon (particle size 50\u2013500 \u00b5m) is mixed with copper as a catalyst and activators in a fluidised-bed reactor. Chloromethane is introduced from below and flows through the powder mixture. The reaction occurs at 260\u2013320 \u00b0C and pressures between 1 and 5 bar.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">This reaction yields a mixture of chloromethylsilanes, which are separated by fractional distillation. The most important compound for silicone production is dimethyldichlorosilane ((CH<sub>3<\/sub>)<sub>2<\/sub>Cl<sub>2<\/sub>Si). During hydrolysis, hydrogen chloride is released, and the chlorine atoms are replaced by hydroxyl groups (\u2013OH). Through subsequent polycondensation, water molecules are eliminated and polydimethylsiloxane is formed. These polysiloxanes can be further crosslinked or functionalised in additional reactions.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Silicones are components of silicone oils, resins, and rubbers. Silicone oils consist of linear polysiloxane chains and are used as lubricants, antifoaming agents, sealants, and hydraulic fluids.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/seals-and-gaskets\/o-rings\/silicone-o-rings\/30644\/silicone-o-rings-metric\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-8615 size-full\" title=\"Silicone O-Rings - metric\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/silikon-o-ringe-metrisch.jpg\" alt=\"Silicone O-Rings - metric\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/silikon-o-ringe-metrisch.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/silikon-o-ringe-metrisch-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/closure-elements\/plugs\/plugs-made-of-elastomers\/30009\/stopper-made-of-silicone-platinum-cross-linked\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-8616 size-full\" title=\"Stopper made of Silicone - platinum cross-linked\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/stopfen-aus-silikon-platinvernetzt.jpg\" alt=\"Stopper made of Silicone - platinum cross-linked\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/stopfen-aus-silikon-platinvernetzt.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/stopfen-aus-silikon-platinvernetzt-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Silicone rubbers consist of long-chain, three-dimensionally crosslinked polysiloxanes. They are used as sealing materials and electrical insulators. Implants, baby bottle teats, and baking or ice-cube moulds are made from physiologically safe silicone grades. Furthermore, silicone rubbers are processed into <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/tubes-hoses\/application-fields-for-tubings\/pump-tubing\">pump tubing<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/tubes-hoses\/application-fields-for-tubings\/medical-tubing\">medical tubing<\/a>, semi-finished products, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/closure-elements\/plugs\">plugs<\/a>, and seals such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/seals-and-gaskets\/o-rings\">O-rings<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Compared with other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/tubes-hoses\/tubing-made-of-elastomers-soft-rubber\">rubber hoses<\/a>, silicone hoses offer an exceptionally wide operating temperature range from \u221260 \u00b0C to +300 \u00b0C. Even at low temperatures, they remain flexible and elastic. Silicone hoses are physiologically harmless and suitable for use in the food and medical industries.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Silicone resins are even more highly crosslinked than silicone rubbers. They serve as insulating, heat- and weather-resistant coatings, lacquers, moulding compounds, and laminates.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Silicon_on_the_Moon\"><\/span>Silicon on the Moon<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In 1969, the crew of Apollo 11 left a silicon wafer the size of a 50-cent coin on the Moon, enclosed in an aluminium case inscribed \u201cFrom Planet Earth \u2013 July 1969\u201d. On the wafer itself were goodwill messages from 73 world leaders, including US presidents Richard M. Nixon, Lyndon B. Johnson, and John F. Kennedy. Each message was photographed and miniaturised to a size much smaller than a pinhead \u2013 a microscope would be required to read them.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8606\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8606\" style=\"width: 450px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-8606 size-full\" title=\"Silicon wafer left on the Moon by the Apollo 11 crew\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/silikonscheibe-der-apollo-besatzung.jpg\" alt=\"Silicon wafer left on the Moon by the Apollo 11 crew\" width=\"450\" height=\"332\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/silikonscheibe-der-apollo-besatzung.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/silikonscheibe-der-apollo-besatzung-300x221.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8606\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><center>Silicon wafer left on the Moon by the Apollo 11 crew<\/center><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Due to the increasing importance of electronic components, the term Silicon Age was coined. Likewise, the high-tech region in California known as Silicon Valley underscores the element\u2019s fundamental role in the semiconductor industry.<\/p>\n<pre><strong>Image Sources:<\/strong> \r\nFeatured image: \u00a9 SweetBunFactory \u2013 stock.adobe.com\r\nAmorphous silicon dioxide: LHcheM, CC BY-SA 3.0 &lt;https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/3.0&gt;, via Wikimedia Commons\r\nMonocrystalline solar modules: \u00a9 visdia \u2013 stock.adobe.com\r\nSilicon wafer from Apollo 11 mission: \u00a9 NASA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons\r\n<\/pre>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Without silicon, our modern daily life would look entirely different. It is found in every microchip but also in baking moulds, lubricants, cosmetics, and plastics: the element silicon. Silicon \u2013 What Is It and Where Does It Occur? Silicon is a chemical element with the atomic number 14, located in the third period and the &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":13013,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,3028,2748,3029],"tags":[3446],"class_list":["post-14937","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-all-articles","category-alle-beitraege-en","category-materials-in-chemistry","category-werkstoffe-in-der-chemie-en","tag-silicon"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Silicon: Properties and Applications - Reichelt Chemietechnik Magazine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The special properties of the element silicon: raw material for microchips, solar cells, and silicones \u2705 Production \u2705 Applications\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/silicon-properties-and-applications\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Silicon: Properties and Applications - 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