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In the late 1990's French aluminum producer Pechiney (today RioTinto Alcan) researched in its Electrometallurgy R&D center in Voreppe,
and patented processes to manufacture β-SiC products with high surface area, which could be used as catalyst supports.
In 2001, SiCAT was founded with funding from American and European individual investors and signed an exclusive worldwide license on the β-SiC patents. In 2003, SiCAT opened a pilot plant with nominal capacity of 10 tons/year
in Saverne, near Strasbourg. To date, SiCAT has received 12 million Euros of funding from equity investors and industrial partners.
A number of leading chemical and petrochemical companies have since patented the use of β-SiC supported catalysts in their proprietary applications.
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Beta-SiC extrudates
Beta-SiC open cell foam
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