ferroalloy

A ferroalloy is an alloy of iron with a high proportion of one or more other elements such as manganese (Mn), aluminium (Al), or silicon (Si). They are used in the production of steels and alloys. The alloys impart distinctive qualities to steel and cast iron or serve important functions during production and are, therefore, closely associated with the iron and steel industry, the leading consumer of ferroalloys. The leading producers of ferroalloys in 2014 were China, South Africa, India, Russia and Kazakhstan, which accounted for 84% of the world production. World production of ferroalloys was estimated as 52.8 million tonnes in 2015.

== Compounds == The main ferroalloys are: FeAl – ferroaluminum FeB – ferroboron – 12–20% of boron, max. 3% of silicon, max. 2% aluminium, max. 1% of carbon FeCe – ferrocerium FeCr – ferrochromium FeMg – ferromagnesium FeMn – ferromanganese FeMo – ferromolybdenum – min. 60% Mo, max. 1% Si, max. 0.5% Cu FeNb – ferroniobium FeNi – ferronickel (and nickel pig iron) FeP – ferrophosphorus FeSi – ferrosilicon – 15–90% Si FeSiMg – ferrosilicon magnesium (with Mg 4 to 25%), also called nodulizer FeTa – ferrotantalum FeTi – ferrotitanium – 10..30–65..75% Ti, max. 5–6.5% Al, max. 1–4% Si FeU – ferrouranium FeV – ferrovanadium FeW – ferrotungsten