carborundum

Blend of carbon +‎ corundum; originally a trade name.

• IPA^(key): /kɑɹbəˈɹʌndəm/

carborundum (uncountable)

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, page 73

     There 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, page 28

     This 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, page 22

     At 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, page 83

     Print 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).

• “Carborundum” in David Barthelmy, Webmineral Mineralogy Database, 1997–.
• “carborundum”, in Mindat.org‎, Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, accessed 29 August 2016.

carborundum m (invariable)

1. Carborundum