Silicon: Understanding Its Makeup and Its Worth in Mechanical Engineering, Research Paper Example

Background of the Element

In terms of being common and available in the environment, Silicon ranks as the eighth most common non-metal element in the environment today. However, the purity of this particular element is found to be rare especially that it is most often than not presented along with other known elements such as dusts and sands. Purifying the said element from its original form takes time and specific procedures. It has been noted through research though that the Earth’s crust contains of at least 90% silicate minerals, which are all necessary for the creation of pure silicon. This makes silicon the second most abundant element that is found within the Earth’s crust.

Characteristics of Element

When at room temperature, Silicon is solid and can only be melted at high melting points. It is also considered to have greater density when it is in a liquid state and when it freezes, its molecules expand rather than contract. This particular characteristic allows it to conduct heat more effectively and thus making it the most compatible element for insulating hot objects for the sake of improving safety and competence measures on the part of the said objects.

Being a metalloid or a metal-alloy, Silicon is most often than not more flexible than its other counterparts. The condition of its function then depends on this particular characteristic thus making an indicative impact on how much of this particular element is used in line with modern forms of technology. Being able to present different characteristics and function based on its form and its concentration, silicon is considered to be widely used for different purposes in relation to innovation today. Among its most important and probably the most reflective function, that it takes today is that of its use in the field of mechanical engineering.

Use and Application

As mentioned earlier, because of the different characteristics that silicon is noted for under its different forms, this element is widely used in the society today in line with innovation and technological development. In terms of mechanical engineering, silicon plays a great role in developing new machineries that are competent enough to handle expansive functions of innovation. For instance, the development of computers has prompted a high demand for silicon as it is being used for circuit establishment and insulation relatively. From huge computing machines towards the development of miniature gadgets, the use of silicon for insulation and circuit improvement plays a great role in the modern society. The use of this element specifically allows for the greater development of complex machines as they are dedicated to meet with the demands of the modern society for communication and improved computing operations.

The micromechanical applications of silicon in different technical creations present in the society today makes this particular element a vital factor in defining the path of development that the modern society takes in consideration with technology and innovation of communication systems. The success of the utilization and application of silicon in the field of mechanical engineering could be derived from the emergence of four particular instances. One is the abundance and the inexpensive resources that provide silicon, which also includes the process by which the element is flexible enough to undergo different aspects of adjustment to fit specific demands of the innovation approach being aimed to complete. Two is the processing of silicon which is simple and practical compared to the procedures considered when purifying and adjusting the forms of other usable elements. Three is the reproduction and the controllable process by which the element itself could be adjusted to make different forms and perform different functions as desired by the innovators. Four is the capability of silicon microelectirc circuits to be batch fabricated hence creating similar sets for mass production of the innovating elements that they are applied in. The creation of miniature devices has strongly received so much support in relation to this aspect of silicon harvesting, processing and development.

Conclusion

As of now, further researches on developing the purification stages of silicon is expected to provide more developmental conditions regarding the use of silicon. It is expected to be introduced to new markets of innovators hence inspiring more developed miniature gadgets that are not only to serve as a response to market demand, but are also expected to provide market satisfaction based on functionality and practicality.

Discovering about the characteristic and the capacity of silicon to provide what innovators need for their inventions is a strong source of technical competence for many enthusiasts of technological development. This fact makes a great impact on how the field of technology relatively develops today. Further developing the aspect of processing and utilizing silicon is then expected to make the miniature gadget industry more competent in responding to market satisfaction in the future.

References

Greenwood, Norman N; Earnshaw, Alan (1997). Chemistry of the Elements (2 ed.). Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann.

Sekiguchi, A; Kinjo, R; Ichinohe, M (2004). “A stable compound containing a silicon-silicon triple bond”. Science 305 (5691): 1755–7.

Van Der Linden, P. C.; De Jonge, J. (2010). “The preparation of pure silicon”. Recueil des Travaux Chimiques des Pays-Bas 78.

Yasuda, Kouji; Okabe, Toru H. (2010). “Solar-grade silicon production by metallothermic reduction“. JOM 62 (12): 94.