Ferrochrome

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Not to be confused with ferrichrome.

Ferrochrome alloy
Ferrochrome, or Ferrochromium (FeCr) is a type of ferroalloy, that is, an alloy
between chromium and iron, generally containing 50% to 70% chromium by weight.[1]
[2]

Ferrochrome is produced by electric arc carbothermic reduction of chromite. Most of

the world's ferrochrome is produced in South Africa, Kazakhstan and India, which
have large domestic chromite resources. Increasing amounts are coming from Russia
and China. The production of steel is the largest consumer of ferrochrome,
especially the production of stainless steel with chromium content of 10 to 20% is
the main application of ferrochrome.

Usage
Over 80% of the world's ferrochrome is utilised in the production of stainless
steel. In 2006 28 Mt of stainless steel were produced.[3] [4] Stainless steel
depends on chromium for its appearance and its resistance to corrosion. The average
chrome content in stainless steel is approximately 18%. It is also used when it is
desired to add chromium to carbon steel. FeCr from Southern Africa, known as
"charge chrome" and produced from a Cr containing ore with a low carbon content, is
most commonly used in stainless steel production. Alternatively, high carbon FeCr
produced from high grade ore found in Kazakhstan (among other places) is more
commonly used in specialist applications such as engineering steels where a high Cr
to Fe ratio and minimum levels of other elements such as sulfur, phosphorus and
titanium are important and production of finished metals takes place in small
electric arc furnaces compared to large scale blast furnaces.

Production
Ferrochrome production is essentially a carbothermic reduction operation taking
place at high temperatures. Cr Ore (an oxide of chromium and iron) is reduced by
coal and coke to form the iron-chromium alloy. The heat for this reaction can come
from several forms, but typically from the electric arc formed between the tips of
the electrodes in the bottom of the furnace and the furnace hearth. This arc
creates temperatures of about 2,800 �C (5,070 �F). In the process of smelting, huge
amounts of electricity are consumed, making production in countries with high power
cost very expensive.

Tapping of the material from the furnace takes place intermittently. When enough
smelted ferrochrome has accumulated in the hearth of the furnace, the tap hole is
drilled open and a stream of molten metal and slag rushes down a trough into a
chill or ladle. The ferrochrome solidifies in large castings, which are crushed for
sale or further processed.

Ferrochrome is often classified by the amount of carbon and chrome it contains. The
vast majority of FeCr produced is charge chrome from Southern Africa. With high
carbon being the second largest segment followed by the smaller sectors of low
carbon and intermediate carbon material.

References
"ASTM A482".
"Ferrochromium -- Specification and conditions of delivery - ISO 5448:1981".
Jorgenson, John D.; Corathers, Lisa A.; Gambogi, Joseph; Kuck, Peter H.; Magyar,
Michael J.; Papp, John F.; Shedd; Kim B. "Mineral Yearbook 2006: Ferroalloys"
(PDF). United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2009-02-27.
 Lisa A. Corathers; Joseph Gambogi; Peter H. Kuck; John F. Papp; D�sir�e E. Polyak;
Kim B. Shedd. "Mineral Yearbook 2009: Ferroalloys" (PDF). United States Geological
Survey. Retrieved 2011-11-22.
Categories: Chromium alloysFerroalloys
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