Condensation of SiO and CO in Silicon Production—A Literature Review

Condensates produced by SiO(g) and CO(g) have a crucial importance in silicon productionSilicon production . CondensationCondensation will follow the reactions $$ 3\,{\text{SiO}}\left( {\text{g}} \right) + {\text{CO}}({\text{g}}) \to 2\,{\text{SiO}}_{2} + {\text{SiC}}\,{\text{and}}\,2\,{\text{SiO}}\,({\text{g}}) \to {\text{Si}} + {\text{SiO}}_{2} $$ . Solid compounds generated during silicon productionSilicon production contain Si, SiO2 and SiCSic in different microstructures and amounts. In industrial systems, condensates limit the SiO(g) escape to the off-gas system. On the other hand, they can block the gas flowing from the high temperatureTemperature zone, hence the necessity of studying an optimized condensationCondensation process. This reviewReview discusses SiO(g) condensationCondensation and its interaction with CO(g). The report gives an overview of the condensates found both at laboratory and at industrial scale. The two main compounds are the Si–SiO2 and the SiOx–SiC mixtures. The hypothesis on the mechanism of formation of SiC–SiOx condensates is presented through a wide selection of performed works. The advantages and disadvantages of the former experimentalExperimental procedures are discussed.