Catalyst for a process for producing silicones

摘要

An improved direct process for producing organohalosilanes and particularly diorganodihalosilanes from silicon metal and an organohalide comprising contacting the two reactants in the presence of a partially oxidized copper catalyst having a surface area of at least 3.5 m2/gm and wherein 100% of the particles are less than 35 microns in size and wherein 100% of the particles are over 0.7 microns in size.