Uses for "waste" silicon carbide powder

[M. Roberts]

Hello all. We manufacture various parts from silicon carbide...one of our processes, we machine the material into various shapes. The dust is collected via dust collectors (duh! :-) ), and when the barrels are full, they are dumped into the trash. I am trying to brain storm a use for this waste powder...you guys usually have some unique ideas....any thoughts? Thanks, Mark

 

[rons]

I use this grease sometimes.

https://www.rshughes.com/p/Loctite-Clover-Compound-280-GT-Grease-2-Oz-Can-00452-IDH-1777012/079340_00452/

 

[eKretz]

Got me. To be used as an abrasive you'd want it crushed so it's sharp edged. How fine is it? Maybe blasting grit?

 

[GregSY]

Contact ConAgra and see if they will buy it....I see no reason they can't fold it into any one of several of their products.

 

[M. Roberts]

Thanks for the ideas. I am having a coworker run a particle size on it...results tomorrow. I thought of contacting a local concrete company and adding it to their mix...it is a thing actually. I do recall using the "Clover Compound" when I lapped valves in a head when I was a kid. I had the idea of selling it a "rock tumbling" media....that may work....

 

[Rob F.]

Probably to small to go in a vibrating tumbler to polish parts but might be worth a try?

 

[M. Roberts]

Yeah, I have no clue...think it may work in a conventional tumbler??

 

[Rob F.]

Maybe only for polishing/cleaning dry parts, I doubt that it would do any deburing. I would want a lot in the tumbler to keep parts away from each other.

 

[gbent]

What about a manufacturer of tumbling media?

 

[M. Roberts]

All good ideas. I guess I will have to wait and see how the particle size come out to zero in on possible useage...I'm sure that it is pretty broad. If I could find a non-critical market, such as polishing rocks, that would be great. Something like lapping compound that needs to be combined with a grease or the like sounds messy and a PIA to deal with...all to be seen....

 

[Bill D]

Don't companies buy old broken carbide inserts, etc for raw materials to remelt?
Bill D

 

[L Vanice]

Don't companies buy old broken carbide inserts, etc for raw materials to remelt?
Bill D

They do, but there is no melting involved. And that valuable product is tungsten carbide, totally different from silicon carbide. Sandvik has a video about how they recycle inserts.

Larry

 

[boslab]

Get in touch with a retailer and tell them what you have, they will have ball mills, sieves and shakers so it can be calibrated and packed, but it seems a waste to throw a raw material.
Mark

 

[Rob F.]

I have some buckets full of silicon carbide abrasive that I got from a stone countertop guy when he closed his shop 10 yrs back. He was trying to replicate the polish that the slab cutting places can put on the large slabs.
I actually used some about a week ago when I couldn't quickly find my clover lapping compound. A little mootor oil to make paste and I was good to go.
I cant remember the grit he said it was (400?) it is pretty fine sand, not dust.
Isn't silicon carbide the grit that is on sandpaper used for glass grinding/polishing?

 

[EPAIII]

Silicon carbide grit is used for roughing optical surfaces. But they are going to be very particular about particle size. Just ONE larger particle in a grit size will ruin many hours, even days of work.

So average size won't cut it. It must have absolutely NO larger particles in the can.

 

[M. Roberts]

Good conversations. Yes, silicon carbide is used for sandpaper, and the polishing of many products. And I agree that one would need to have a specific sized powder for the application. I should have the results of the particle size this morning. I'm thinking about perusing the rock tumbling crowd....they won't be as picky about the powder not being one particular size...I think. Any other ideas?

 

[Rob F.]

Sandpaper makers? They would be able to sift it into the needed grit sizes for their needs. Or find out where the pre sifted grit comes from and reach out to them?
You could even get a few screens to sift it into a few common grits if that helps sell it.

 

[eKretz]

You can buy sifting screens and similar equipment. If you plan to sell the stuff in decent quantity it will probably be worth doing that, even for the rock tumblers.

 

[dgfoster]

I do think the fact that the material is presently a broad mix of sizes limits its application. However, I know one simple way that is used commercially to sort it by size is to mix the powder into a liquid medium---more viscous to suspend larger sizes and thinner for smalls. By allowing the material to settle out for specified intervals will result in coarse in the first settling and tiny particles in the later portions. I believe (not sure) that for more precise calibration, repeat suspension/settling cycles are done.

I, personally use si-c powders to grind/cut round discs of glass or to grind/bore holes in hard materials.

It also has application as a refractory in kilns and high-temperature furnaces when fused or sintered into structural shapes.

Denis

 

[Hightemp]

I blast with it. It's only a few $ per pound. Is your stuff black or green?