Market Note: Black Silicon Carbide (SiC)
Black silicon carbide (SiC) is a synthetic compound of silicon and carbon, known for its extreme hardness, high thermal conductivity, and chemical stability. It is produced by heating silica sand and carbon to high temperatures in an electric resistance furnace. The resulting material has a distinctive black color due to its crystal structure and impurities. Black SiC is primarily used as an abrasive and refractory material in various industrial applications.
In silicon wafer manufacturing, black SiC is used as a high-performance substrate material, particularly for power electronics and high-frequency devices. Its competitive advantages in this application stem from its superior electrical properties compared to traditional silicon. SiC has a wider bandgap, higher breakdown electric field strength, and better thermal conductivity than silicon. These properties allow SiC-based devices to operate at higher temperatures, voltages, and frequencies with lower power losses. This makes SiC ideal for applications in electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and 5G infrastructure where efficiency and performance are critical.
The global silicon carbide market, including both black and green SiC, was valued at $3.30 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.7% from 2023 to 2030. The black SiC segment dominates the market with over 54% revenue share. This rapid growth is driven by increasing demand from the automotive industry, particularly for electric vehicles, as well as expanding applications in power electronics, renewable energy, and aerospace sectors. The superior properties of SiC in high-power and high-temperature applications are fueling its adoption across these industries.
Prices in the SiC industry are primarily driven by production costs, supply-demand dynamics, and the level of purity required for different applications. The energy-intensive production process and the need for high-purity raw materials contribute significantly to costs. As demand grows, especially for high-purity SiC used in semiconductors, prices have been trending upward. However, as production capacity expands and manufacturing processes improve, there may be some downward pressure on prices in the future. The market also sees price differentiation based on the grade and form of SiC, with high-purity wafers commanding premium prices.
Market
The global silicon carbide market size was valued at $3.30 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.7% from 2023 to 2030. The black SiC segment dominates the market with over 54% revenue share in 2022.
Key market trends and drivers include:
Growing demand from the steel and automotive industries
Increasing adoption of SiC in power electronics and electric vehicles
Rising use in renewable energy applications like solar inverters
Expanding applications in aerospace and defense sectors
Black silicon carbide's unique combination of extreme hardness, thermal properties, and chemical stability make it a superior material for various industrial applications. Its growing adoption in emerging technologies like electric vehicles and power electronics is driving strong market growth. The material's ability to improve efficiency and performance in demanding processes gives it a competitive edge over alternatives, positioning black SiC as a critical material for various high-tech and industrial applications in the coming years.