The trade name 'metallic silicon' (also known as 'industrial silicon') first appeared on the market in the mid-1960s. Its emergence is associated with the growth of the semiconductor industry. In international business, industrial silicon is usually divided into two categories: metallic silicon and semiconductor silicon. Metallic silicon is produced by melting quartz and coke in an electric furnace.
The main component is silicon, which makes up about 98 % of the total composition (99.99 % Si is also part of metallic silicon). The remaining impurities are iron, aluminium, calcium and so on. Silicon metal is subdivided into many specifications to meet the diverse requirements of different end users. According to industry data, the world consumption of metallic silicon reached about 500,000 tonnes in 1985. Of this, about 60% was used in aluminium alloys, 3% in semiconductors, and the rest in steel smelting and precision ceramics.