Carborundum

Pronunciation

• IPA: /kɑɹbəˈɹʌndÉ™m/

Origin

carboncorundum; originally a trade name.

Noun

1. Crystals of silicon carbide used as an abrasive.
• 1892, Nikola Tesla, Experiments with Alternate Currents of High Potential and High Frequency, Wildside Press LLC (ISBN 9780809501632), page 73There is no doubt that such a button — properly prepared under great pressure — of carborundum, especially of powder of the best quality, will withstand the effect of the bombardment fully as well as anything we know.
• 1976, M.R. Walter, Stromatolites, Elsevier (ISBN 9780080869322), page 28This can most readily be done by use of carborundum marking. The procedure involves successive marking of the same mat with layers of carborundum at least twice.
• 1995, Reg F. Chapman, Gerrit de Boer, Regulatory Mechanisms in Insect Feeding, Springer Science & Business Media (ISBN 9780412031410), page 22At the same times, samples were taken to determine that the carborundum treatment did increase the amount of wear of the mandibles compared with insects on the diet without carborundum powder.
• 2008, Gerald W. R. Ward, The Grove Encyclopedia of Materials and Techniques in Art, Oxford University Press (ISBN 9780195313918), page 83Print made by combining carborundum—a carbon and silicon compound customarily used for polishing by abrasion—with synthetic resin or varnish (see also Prints, §III, 5).