Silicon carbide is the compound of silicon and carbon (SiC). It is produced by technical means from silica sand, coke, alumina and common salt, heated to a temperature of 1900 … 2200°C in electric furnaces (). SiC is electrically conductive and displays diamond-like hardness. It occurs in a cubic low-temperature phase (b-SiC) and a hexagonal high-temperature phase (a-SiC). The transition temperature lies at approximately 2100°C. SiC powder is the starting product for pressureless sintered silicon carbide (S-SiC) and reaction sintered silicon carbide (SiSiC). For material characteristics see materials for seal faces and stationary seats.