The Erosion of Materials in Molten Silicon

The erosion rates and mechanisms are discussed for several materials in contact with molten silicon near its melting point. Vitreous materials, e.g. , vitreous carbon and fused silica, behave similarly and erode primarily by dissolution. Pressed‐powder materials, e.g. , silicon carbide and silicon nitride, degrade by a combination of dissolution and particulate erosion (intergranular corrosion).