Why can black silicon carbide be used for drilling holes in high-borosilicate glass?
Black silicon carbide (α-SiC, Mohs hardness 9.2) is well-suited for drilling borosilicate glass. It is characterized by its high hardness, sharpness, self-sharpening properties, and good thermal conductivity; furthermore, it does not undergo hydration reactions with glass. These attributes make it specifically adapted for glass—a hard, brittle material with a low coefficient of thermal expansion. The machining process involved is classified as micro-grinding (material removal via abrasion).
