AN1089 Si Metal Prodigy DCA - Application Note

Silicon is a blue tinted metal with a high luster and a melting point of 1414 °C. It is the second most abundant element found in the Earth’s crust, yet silicon is rarely found as a free element in nature. Due to its electrical resistance and relatively high thermal conductivity properties, silicon is used in a wide range of applications. The solar industry increasingly makes use of silicon in the production of silicon wafers, photovoltaic solar cells and silicon-based electronic semiconductors. As an alloyed metal, ferrosilicon accounts for a majority of all silicon produced worldwide, and is used in the steel industry. Silicon is also used to improve the hardness and wear-resistance of aluminum which makes it useful in the production of steels.