Silicon carbide bipolar junction transistors have been fabricated and investigated. The transistors had a maximum current gain of approximately 10 times, and a breakdown voltage of 450 V. When operated at high power densities the device showed a clear self-heating effect, decreasing the current gain. The junction temperature was extracted during self-heating to approximately 150 degreesC, using the assumption that the current gain only depends on temperature. Thermal images of a device under operation were also recorded using an infrared camera, showing a significant temperature increase in the vicinity of the device. The device was also tested in a switched setup, showing fast turn on and turn off at 1 MHz and 300 V supply voltage. Device simulations have been used to analyze the measured data. The thermal conductivity is fitted against the self-heating, and the lifetime in the base is fitted against the measurement of the current gain. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.