Silicon is the most abundant element in the earth’s crust after oxygen and is commonly found in nature in quartz. Silicon is widely used in the industry today, but one of its widely used alloys is ferrosilicon.
Ferrosilicon is a mixture of iron and silicon produced by heating, reducing and melting iron and silica (quartz) carbon, mainly in arc furnaces. Its composite ratio is mainly from 10 to 90 percent silicon and the rest is iron. At the same time, impurities such as manganese, chromium, phosphorus, sulfur, and aluminum can be present in Ferrosilicon in amounts below 0.5%. Carbon is present in all types of Ferrosilicon as impurities and as the third element.
The largest consumers of ferrosilicon are steel mills. Castings are another consumer of this material.
Ferrosilicon is one of the compounds used in various industries, especially the metallurgical industry, and it is great importance in this regard. How this material is used in the industry depends largely on the ratio of iron and silicon in it, as well as conventional impurities.
Ferrosilicon can be used in the metallurgical industry as an almost pure alloying, germinating and oxygenating element and silicon in the electronics industry as a semiconductor and rectifier.
In addition, synthetic silica derivatives are used in the manufacture of silicone resins, glazes, tires, etc.
Restorative material for the production of other alloys:
When ferrosilicon is used in steel casting, its strength, hardness, elasticity and magnetic ability increase. The formation of unwanted carbides can also be prevented by adding ferro-silicon to the melt.
Ferro-silicon and ferromanganese are the two most widely used ferroalloys in the steel industry.
