silicon carbide


nounChemistry.
  1. a very hard, insoluble, crystalline compound, SiC, used as an abrasive and as an electrical resistor in objects exposed to high temperatures.

Origin of silicon carbide

1
First recorded in 1900–05

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How to use silicon carbide in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for silicon carbide

silicon carbide

noun
  1. an extremely hard bluish-black insoluble crystalline substance produced by heating carbon with sand at a high temperature and used as an abrasive and refractory material. Silicon carbide whiskers have a high tensile strength and are used in composites; very pure crystals are used as semiconductors. Formula: SiC

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