Integrating material flow analysis and supply chain resilience analysis to study silicon carbide

Journal of Industrial Ecology, vol. 28, pp. 1830–1841

Abstract

Abstract Silicon carbide (SiC) is a niche nonmetallic material that is essential in many industrial processes. Here, we integrate material flow analysis and supply chain resilience analysis to understand global SiC stocks and flows and to assess its supply chain. We use industry interviews to fill data gaps and collect information on the SiC system to overcome data scarcity. We find that globally around 1000 kt of SiC is produced each year. The biggest use of SiC is the abrasives industry (40%), followed by metallurgy (28%), refractories (20%), technical ceramics (0.7%), other uses (0.7%), and semiconductors (0.01%). As an energy‐intensive material, the SiC supply chain is under pressure, increasing the relevance of resilience considerations. Besides typical supply chain risks such as low diversity of supply and geopolitical trade restrictions, SiC particularly faces risks due to its energy‐intensive production process and associated emissions. In the SiC semiconductor supply chain, losses of nearly 75% are a particular issue. Due to high demand in the SiC market, stockpiles are negligible, and substitution is difficult in most sectors. We find that in the case of SiC, sustainability measures such as use reduction, recycling, or decreasing energy use or emissions would also positively contribute to supply chain resilience. This article met the requirements for a gold‐gold JIE data openness badge described at http://jie.click/badges .

Authors 3

1. Catrin Böcher corresponding Aachen Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML)

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands

   Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

2. Benjamin Sprecher

   Delft University of Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Industrial Design Engineering TU Delft Delft The Netherlands

   Industrial Design Engineering, TU Delft, Delft, The Netherlands

3. Tomer Fishman Aachen Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML)

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands

   Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands