Silicon is abundant, relatively easy to mine and very useful!
Chemical symbol "Si" (Atomic Number 14), silicon is turned into silicon metal by heating silica (quartz) to very high temperatures in an electric furnace. Facilities in China, Russia, Brazil, Norway, South Africa and USA, can produce very pure (98%) silicon metal using this technique.
Solar panels and silicon chips are well known uses for silicon metal, but it also forms the basis of many oils, greases, and sealants. At Primasil, we're interested in silicon as the key ingredient in silicone rubber - a leading edge polymer which is replacing many hydrocarbon based products.