Silicon carbide (SiC), also known as carborundum, is a compound of silicon and carbon with chemical formula SiC.

 Abrasive and cutting tools

In the arts, silicon carbide is a popular abrasive in modern lapidary due to the durability and low cost of the material. In manufacturing, it is used for its hardness in abrasive machining processes such as grinding, honing, water-jet cutting and sandblasting. Particles of silicon carbide are laminated to paper to create sandpapers and the grip tape on skateboards^.

 Automobile parts

 Electric systems

The earliest electrical application of SiC was in lightning arresters in electric power systems. These devices must exhibit high resistance until the voltage across them reaches a certain threshold V_T, at which point their resistance must drop to a lower level and maintain this level until the applied voltage drops below V_T.

 Electronic circuit elements

Silicon carbide is used for ultrafast, high-voltage Schottky diodes, M