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Acheson Process

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Carbide, Nitride and Boride Materials Synthesis and Processing

Abstract

Silicon carbide (SiC) is not uncommonly referred to as ‘carborundum’. This vernacular term commemorates a word coined by Edward G. Acheson in 1892 to describe crystals that he made in an experiment which had the real goal of making a diamond-like crystal from carbon and alundum (Acheson, 1893). Using a primitive electric furnace of his own design, he in fact made Sic. Acheson immediately designed a more efficient electric furnace and soon a profitable business with the jewelry trade was established. A century later, the furnaces used to make almost all Sic world-wide follow his original design concept.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, USA

    Philip J. Guichelaar

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  1. Philip J. Guichelaar
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Colorado, Boulder, USA

    Alan W. Weimer (Professor of Chemical Engineering) (Professor of Chemical Engineering)

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© 1997 Chapman & Hall

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Guichelaar, P.J. (1997). Acheson Process. In: Weimer, A.W. (eds) Carbide, Nitride and Boride Materials Synthesis and Processing. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0071-4_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0071-4_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-6521-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-0071-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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