A simple technique was developed to produce SiC whiskers on graphite matrix using common and low-cost hydrogen silicone oil (H-PSO) as raw material. Detailed investigation with characterization by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersion spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy and selected area electron diffraction demonstrated that the whiskers contain a single crystalline beta-SiC core along the < 111 > direction with a silica shell. The formation of whiskers started with defect-vapor-vapor and further grew with the vapor-liquid-solid mechanism. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.