SGL Carbon says that it has invested around US$10 million to modernize porous and extruded graphite production at its site in Morganton, North Carolina, USA.
According to the company, porous graphite is used to make the equipment which produces silicon carbide (SiC) crystals for micro chips. Products made from extruded graphite are used in to make alloys in the aluminum industry and other industrial sectors.
The company plans to modernize the entire production chain, focusing on mixing and pressing technology as well as thermal processes and the raw material supply system in order to improve the quality of the porous graphite production. In addition, the existing electrical infrastructure will be updated.
‘With our modernized production of porous graphite that has high purity and well-defined porosity thanks to a reliably high-quality raw material base, we can meet the rapidly growing requirements of the semiconductor market for these applications,’ said Doug Garda, VP of SGL Carbon.
The history of the Morganton site in North Carolina dates back to the early 1940s, today employing around 100 well-educated specialists and material experts. The porous material for SiC crystal for the semiconductor industry is produced in various rod sizes with diameters ranging from 4.5’ to 9.5’. Products made from extruded graphite are used in applications such as PDC (Polycrystalline Diamond Compact), rail wheels, as well as metal alloys, including in the aluminum industry.
This story uses material from SGL, with editorial changes made by Materials Today.
