Ferroalloys are alloys of iron combined with other reactive elements used in steelmaking, such as manganese, carbon, or silicon. They provide unique qualities in steel and cast iron, and are used in the production of advanced materials. Ferroalloys are made by combining iron with other elements in a furnace, and are produced by companies worldwide.
Ferroalloys are various alloys of iron that contain a significant amount of one or more other elements, such as manganese, carbon, or silicon. The term iron, or ferric, refers to a compound containing or relating to iron. A ferroalloy has iron as the basic element—less than 50% in many cases—combined with one or more other reactive elements used during steelmaking. A ferroalloy will physically introduce and transport these elements into the molten metal, as steel and cast iron are produced.
A ferroalloy can use a single reactive element or multiple reactive elements, known as alloy systems, such as nickel or cobalt. These alloys were invented experimentally, identifying different elements to combine with iron and developing methods to introduce them in a controlled way during steel production. There are many different types of these alloys available, including ferromanganese, ferrochrome, and ferrosilicon, among others. They are responsible for providing unique qualities in steel and cast iron and play a critical function during the iron and steel production cycles.
The primary and most common ferroalloys use chromium, manganese and silicon. Ferrosilicon is used to prevent carbon loss from molten steel during the production of steel and ferrous alloys. Some ferroalloys have deoxidizing properties, such as silicon. Ferro chromium is used to provide corrosion resistance in stainless steels. Ferromanganese is used to counteract the harmful effects of sulfur during the production of steel and cast iron.
Ferroalloys are primarily associated with the steel industries, which report an annual worldwide production of millions of tons – or megagrams – per year. They are used to produce many of the most advanced materials in use today. These include metal alloys for extremely high temperature service applications, such as gas turbines, and stainless steels for superior corrosion resistance. The materials used for parts which are exposed to high loads and which transmit mechanical power are also manufactured with them.
Ferroalloys are made by combining iron with other elements at very high temperatures in a furnace. They usually have lower melting temperature ranges than pure elements and can be more easily combined in molten steel, which offers some advantages during production. Several types of furnaces are used to produce ferroalloys, including submerged electric arc furnaces, exothermic or metallothermal reaction furnaces, and electrolytic cells. There are many companies that produce ferroalloys with structures capable of treating and processing the raw materials; combine materials in kilns; and refine the material for use in the downstream market.
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