Ferrosilicon powder is a very versatile material that is widely used as an alloying element in various types of steel, including low-alloy structural steel and bearing steel. In addition, ferrosilicon powder is also used as a reducing agent. When the silicon content exceeds 95%, the material can be used to produce monocrystalline silicon or to configure non-ferrous metal alloys.
Ferrosilicon powder used for rolling is heavier, and once added, it quickly enters the molten steel to precipitate and deoxidise, increasing the silicon content of the steel. The high-grade ferrosilicon powder used for rolling is lighter, making diffusion and deoxidation much easier. In addition, the higher the silicon content, the stronger the deoxidising effect. Consequently, ferrosilicon powder is usually made by rolling high-silicon iron.
When ferrosilicon powder is initially introduced, it has minimal effect on the heating time of the moulding mixture. However, it significantly affects the heating temperature and the strength of the moulding mixture after curing. As the amount of ferrosilicon powder increases, the heating temperature and strength also increase. The higher the silicon content of ferrosilicon, the finer the particle size and less surface oxidation, resulting in a more pronounced effect.