Investigation Of Reductant And Carbon Influence On Silicon Carbide Powder Synthesized From Rice Husk Via SHS Process

Silicon carbide (SiC) is renowned for its high hardness, superior thermal conductivity, and low density, making it crucial in industries like power semiconductors and steel manufacturing. Rice husk, a by-product of rice production, is often undervalued despite global production of 520 million tons (Korea: 3.7 million tons in 2023). Heat treatment of rice husk yields Rice Husk Ash (RHA), rich in silica, which can be purified to over 99%. This study explores synthesizing SiC from rice husk via the Self-propagating High-temperature Synthesis (SHS) method, which utilizes exothermic reactions, minimizing external energy needs. The process focuses on optimizing reductant and carbon conditions, as by-products and free carbon affect SiC properties. Based on the process design conducted using FactSage Software, SiC was synthesized and its properties were evaluated through analysis. This approach presents a sustainable, high-value application for rice husk, contributing to both waste valorization and advanced material production