Learn how ferroalloys were first created, the benefits they bring and how to evaluate your supplies to achieve higher performance steels. Read the article.
Ferroalloys are cornerstones for the iron and steel industry because they can improve the performance of steels, but they are a relatively modern discovery. Let’s see how they were “discovered” and how you can verify their composition to produce a steel end product that meets your requirements.
When were ferroalloys first created
Ferroalloys are the result of analyses and research conducted by a number of engineers, but the first to use the term “ferroalloy” was the French engineer Réaumur in the 18th century, who added carbon to iron to increase its hardness and strength.
In the early 19th century, when the iron and steel industry started to develop in Europe and the United States, ferroalloys began to be used on a much larger scale and new formulas were sought to create increasingly higher performance materials.
Types of ferroalloys
The first ferroalloy used in the iron and steel industry was ferro silicon, which is still one of the most commonly used ferroalloys making raw iron more resistant to corrosion and high temperatures.
At the end of the 19th century, the use of ferro-chromium and ferro manganese became more popular, while in the 20th century other compositions based on ferro-molybdenum, ferro-tungsten and ferro-vanadium were also developed, which led to the production of steels that were increasingly resistant and hard-wearing.
The compositions of ferroalloys
Although the raw materials may be the same, each ferroalloy bestows the end product with precise characteristics according to its composition.
An evaluation of the composition of ferroalloys is therefore crucial to determine the quality and specific properties of each ferroalloy; two aspects that can affect the physical and mechanical properties of the end materials, such as their strength, hardness, and toughness.
If you want to be sure you are purchasing ferroalloys that meet your application requirements, check the technical fact sheets and carefully assess the specific composition of each ferroalloy.
At Al.Fa. Laminati we can supply ferroalloys of different compositions and various sizes to meet the needs of our customers and, thanks to our technical fact sheets, we also provide all the information necessary to find the right ferroalloy for each type of production.
