Silicon Powder | Image Resource : ushares.net

Although most people know about the incredible versatility of silicon, the number of uses that silicon secretly has escapes most minds. Silicon is everywhere and, now, its companion, a powdered form of silicon, is finally getting recognition from every single industry on the planet.

What is silicon powder?

It is basically finely granulated silicon which is grinded down in the presence of gases, like, hydrogen and oxygen, or metals, like, aluminum and iron. Silicon powder, like its source, silicon, is extremely versatile and can find use in almost all industries.

Different purposes and different industries require various kinds of powdered silicon. Depending on the industry, an appropriate purity of silicon is chosen, and it is then grinded down into powdered form. To make the most use of the powder thus created, metals are mixed into it. The mixing is done to serve several purposes:

To increase the strength of the material. To give the powder a desired texture. To make the powder slightly more reactive. To alter the chemical properties that will make it more useful.

The powdered silicon is used almost everywhere, from kitchen appliances to equipment for space shuttles. The powdered form is used because of the ease it provides in creating mixtures in many industries. Some uses of powdered silicon are as follows:

Powdered silicon that has been hardened by alloying it with metals is used in automobiles, some forms of utensils, and some kinds of metallic equipment.

It is also widely used in the computer and microchip industry. Silicon, while very versatile on its own, cannot provide the versatility that the powdered version can. Silicon powder can be used to construct even smaller microchips that are much more efficient.

One of the most important uses of powdered silicon is in Solar panels. Solar panels require a semiconductor that can convert solar energy into electricity with efficiency. The weight and reactivity of doped silicon are absolutely perfect for this application. Hence, the powder finds uses in important industries.