What is the difference between ferrosilicon and high carbon ferrosilicon?

BRIGHT ALLOYS is an entity manufacturer that produces ordinary ferrosilicon and high carbon ferrosilicon.Ferrosilicon is usually considered ordinary ferrosilicon in industrial stand because of its popular carbon and aluminum contents.Today Let’s talk about the difference between ordinary ferrosilicon and high carbon ferrosilicon.

1. The difference between silicon content and carbon content

1) The carbon content of ordinary ferrosilicon is between 0.1-0.3%, and the silicon content is between 65-76%.

2) The carbon content of high carbon ferrosilicon is relatively high. As the name suggests, its carbon content is 15-23%, while the silicon content is between 65-75%.

3) But the comparative trace elements aluminum,phosphorus and sulfur are almost the same.

2. Price difference

1) The price of ordinary ferrosilicon is relatively high, the price is 1500-1800 USD per metric ton, and even 3000-4000 USD in the period of high price.

2) The price of high carbon ferrosilicon is lower, the price is 900-1200 USD per metric ton. Because the market consumption is relatively small and the price is relatively stable, it is less affected by the market price of raw materials.

3. Differences in usage scenarios

1.) Ordinary ferrosilicon can be used in most scenarios. Almost all kinds of steel need to be added with ferrosilicon during smelting to remove excess oxygen in molten iron to ensure the strength standard of steel.

2) High carbon ferrosilicon is more suitable for the production of steel with higher carbon content requirements. For example, when smelting high carbon steel, it is often necessary to add an appropriate amount of recarburizer to increase the carbon content of molten iron. If you use high carbon ferrosilicon, there is no need to add additional recarburizers, because high carbon ferrosilicon contains a high content of carbon to increase the carbon content of the molten iron. High carbon ferrosilicon is more like a combination of ferrosilicon and recarburizer.

4. Use cost difference

1)When producing steel with a carbon content of less than 0.3% (more flexible), because it is necessary to strictly control the carbon content of molten iron, ordinary ferrosilicon can be used, and the cost control performance is average.

2)When producing steel with a carbon content of 0.3-0.6% (higher hardness and high ductility), a suitable ratio of 70% ordinary ferrosilicon + 30% high carbon ferrosilicon can be used to control the carbon content of molten iron. Because the price of high carbon ferrosilicon is lower, the total cost is appropriately reduced.

3)In the production of high carbon steel with a carbon content of 0.6-1.5% (high carbon steel is very hard and generally used for tool steel), high carbon ferrosilicon can be used to control the carbon content and reduce the cost by nearly one third.

The above is the difference between ferrosilicon and high carbon ferrosilicon shared by bright alloys company.Please share if you consider its useful.

BRIGHT ALLOYS has been specializing in the production of various types of ferrosilicon for nearly 20 years,and has formed an advantageous industrial supply chain in terms of price and quality assurance in the production and processing industries of low-carbon, low-aluminum ferrosilicon, ordinary ferrosilicon, and high-carbon ferrosilicon. It has supplied various types of ferrosilicon raw materials to many large steel mills in China, as well as foreign large steel mills and foundries to meet the needs of various types of steel production.For more information about ferrosilicon,you are welcomed to contact us at info@brightalloys.com.