Abstract: An apparatus for producing silicon carbide consisting mainly of .beta.-type crystal are disclosed. The fine silicon carbide consisting mainly of .beta.-type crystal is produced by charging the starting material of silica and carbon with a mole ratio of C/SiO.sub.2 of 3.2-5.0 into a top portion of a vertical-type reaction vessel having a preheating zone, a heating zone and a cooling zone in this order, descending the starting material by gravity through the reaction vessel, heating the starting material in the heating zone at a temperature of 1,600.degree.-2,100.degree. C. by electrically indirect heating in horizontal direction to effect the formation of SiC, cooling the resulting reaction product in the cooling zone under a non-oxidizing atmosphere, and recovering the cooled product from the bottom portion of the reaction vessel to obtain a product having a composition ratio by weight of silicon carbide, silica and free carbon which lies within the area represented by the area ABCD shown in Fig.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for producing silicon carbide consisting mainly of .beta.-type crystal are disclosed. The fine silicon carbide consisting mainly of .beta.-type crystal is produced by charging the starting material of silica and carbon with a mole ratio of C/SiO.sub.2 of 3.2-5.0 into a top portion of a vertical-type reaction vessel having a preheating zone, a heating zone and a cooling zone in this order, descending the starting material by gravity through the reaction vessel, heating the starting material in the heating zone at a temperature of 1,600.degree.-2,100.degree. C.