Carborundum

Carborundum, commercial name for silicon carbide (SiC), widely used abrasive and one of the hardest substances known. Carborundum has a very high melting point (about 4,892F/2,700C) and is used in the manufacture of heat-resistant materials. It conducts electricity and is used in electronic equipment. Carborundum is found in a variety of colors, ranging from blue-black to green, all with a lustrous sheen. A very pure colorless form also exists. Carborundum is widely found over the earth's surface and has also been found in meteorites that have landed on earth. It was first synthesized in 1891 by the American chemist Edward Acheson, who heated coke and clay in a furnace at very high temperatures.