Classification by Purity Grade
(1) Metallurgical-Grade Silicon (MG-Si)
Purity: 98–99.5% Si
Main Impurities: Iron (Fe), Aluminum (Al), Calcium (Ca)
Production Method: Carbothermic reduction of quartz (SiO₂ + C → Si + CO) in an electric arc furnace.
Applications:
Primary use in aluminum alloys (improves strength and fluidity).
Raw material for silicones and silanes.
Feedstock for further refining into higher-purity silicon.
(2) Chemical-Grade Silicon
Purity: 99–99.5% Si
Key Characteristics: Lower iron and aluminum content than MG-Si.
Applications:
Production of silicon-based chemicals (e.g., silicones, silanes, fumed silica).
Used in sealants, lubricants, and waterproofing materials.
(3) Solar-Grade Silicon (SoG-Si)
Purity: 99.9999% (6N) to 99.999999% (8N)
Production Methods:
Siemens Process (via trichlorosilane gas purification).
Fluidized Bed Reactor (FBR) method (granular silicon).
Applications:
Photovoltaic (PV) cells for solar panels.
Some lower-cost solar panels may use upgraded metallurgical-grade silicon (UMG-Si).
(4) Electronic-Grade Silicon (EG-Si / Ultra-High Purity Silicon)
Purity: ≥99.9999999% (9N–11N)
Key Characteristics: Nearly defect-free monocrystalline structure.
Production Methods:
Czochralski (CZ) Process – Single-crystal growth for semiconductors.
Float-Zone (FZ) Refining – Ultra-high purity for advanced electronics.
Applications:
Semiconductor wafers for microchips, CPUs, and memory devices.
Power electronics (e.g., MOSFETs, IGBTs).
Classification by Physical Form
(1) Lump Silicon
Irregular chunks (5–100 mm), commonly used in metallurgy and chemical processing.
(2) Granular Silicon
Small particles (1–5 mm), used in solar silicon production and chemical synthesis.
(3) Powdered Silicon
Fine powder (<1 mm), used in pyrotechnics, ceramics, and specialty alloys.
(4) Silicon Metal Briquettes
Compressed silicon fines, used in steelmaking and foundries for precise addition.
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