Method of continuously producing powder of silicon compound useful as

Abstract

To efficiently produce a fine powder of silicon carbide or silicon nitride useful as engineering ceramics material, a granulated or pelleted mixture of silica powder and carbon powder is put into a plurality of containers each of which has ventilating means such as vent holes, and the containers are introduced into an upper section of a vertically extending heating zone in turn. In the heating zone a nonoxidizing gas atmosphere, which is a nitriding gas atmosphere when producing silicon nitride, is maintained at a temperature of 1400.degree.-2100.degree. C. The granulated or pelleted mixture in the containers undergoes reaction while each container is downwardly moved in the heating zone, either continuously or stepwise, so as to stay in the heating zone for a predetermined length of time.