How to produce ferrochrome

With the advancement of technology and increasing the skill and expertise of human forces, new methods and techniques are used to produce ferrochrome. Among the various methods by which ferrochrome can be produced, there is a technique that is more practical and famous than other methods. The description of this method is that by carbothermic reduction of oxides including magnesium, chromium and iron at very high temperature, ferrochrome is produced. In this method, FeCr alloy is produced by regenerating ore that contains chromium and using coke and coal at high temperature.

As we mentioned before, this method is done by an electric arc furnace. After the reduction process is completed, the produced ferrochrome is collected from the furnace at regular intervals. After a sufficient amount of ferrochrome alloy is prepared, the molten metal and slag are removed with the help of a hole built into the furnace. In the casting process, molten ferrochrome is frozen and prepared for use in subsequent processes. Be careful that ferrochrome is classified according to different things and has different types. In the next section, we will introduce the types of ferrochrome.

Types of ferrochrome

Ferrochromes can be divided into three categories. The first group of low carbon ferrochromes, the second group with medium carbon and the third group of high carbon ferrochromes. Chromium, carbon, sulfur, silicon, phosphorus and nitrogen elements have different percentages in each of these ferrochromes. In the following, we will get to know different types of ferrochrome separately.

Low carbon ferrochrome

Low carbon ferrochrome can be considered an alloy material in which chromium is known as the main element. Due to the fact that the different properties and compositions of steels are well known, these properties are significantly improved by adding alloy elements to them. As a result of this operation, we can witness things such as steel’s resistance to corrosion, wear and increasing its hardness. Among the applications of this ferrochrome are:

This group of ferrochromes has characteristics that can be considered as an advantage. Some of these features include:

• All properties of low carbon ferrochrome are optimal These ferrochromes are a very good and suitable substitute for metallic chrome, which also have more economical costs. These ferrochromes are widely used in the steel and foundry industry.

High carbon ferrochrome

Those metals that have a large amount of carbon are produced by smelting ore with coke in electric furnaces. Among the common ferroalloys produced in this field is high-carbon ferrochrome. Among the applications of high-carbon ferrochromes, the following can be mentioned.

Production of steels with very high chromium content Production of stainless steels Manufacturing steel bearings and tools Manufacturing of engineering steels Implementation of welding operations Performing casting operations and production of other alloy steels This ferrochrome is also used in powdered form. This powder is used to produce wear-resistant plates, making tubular electrodes and also engineering steels. The way of packing these types of ferroalloys is also special. Basically, these ferrochromes are packed in 1 ton, 200 kg and 50 kg cylindrical containers.

Now that you are somewhat familiar with the types of ferrochromes, we decided to learn about the general applications and uses of ferrochromes and examine these uses.

Uses of ferrochrome

• The main application that is expected from ferrochrome alloy is its use in the manufacture and production of stainless steels. It can be said that this ferroalloy is used almost all over the world to produce stainless steels. The content and compounds in these ferrochromes increase the resistance of steel against corrosion to a great extent. In addition to increasing the strength of steel, it will have a great impact on its appearance and beauty. When more chromium is needed in carbon steels, ferrochrome is used and the best results will be obtained from this work.
• It is interesting to know that ferrochrome dust is also widely used in industries. Leather tanning industries are one of the main consumers of ferrochrome dust. This alloy is also used to make ferrochrome lignosulfonate. Ferrochrome lignosulfonate is one of the most useful and important primary materials and compounds in buildings. The advantage of using this material in buildings leads to smoother concrete. Ferrochrome slags have a very high and significant stability, due to this feature, they can play an effective role in the production of refractory materials and also in civil road construction.
  They use ferrochrome powder to make and produce parts by powder metallurgy method. This ferroalloy is also used a lot for the production of cast iron. Ferrochromes, which have 62-66% chromium and almost 5% carbon in their composition, are the best and most suitable alloys for the production of cast iron. In the production and construction of cast steels with high chromium, ferrochromes that are rich in nitrogen are used. These ferrochromes have a finer grain structure compared to other alloys. In fact, it is the nitrogen present in ferrochrome that causes the creation of fine grains, and this factor directly affects the increase in strength and resistance of the product.

According to the explanations presented, it can be concluded that ferrochromes are very valuable and useful alloys that have a special place in various industries. Due to the importance of these products in the world market, many factories and companies are active in the field of production and supply of this type of ferroalloy. Due to the increasing consumption of ferrochrome in the market, some profit-seeking people are also trying to provide a low-quality and cheap product that does not have the expected properties and performance. Therefore, it is necessary for buyers to be careful when buying ferrochrome.