Ferrosilicon is a ferroalloy of silicon and iron. The ratio in which the two chemical substances are combined varies, with the proportion of silicon ranging anywhere between 15% and 90%. This alloy is also known by the name ferrosilicium.

Ferrosilicon can be produced by reducing sand or silica with coke and reacting it with iron derived from scraps or millscale. Ferrosilicons having 15% silicon content can be derived from blast furnaces using acid fire bricks.

Another method of obtaining this alloy is to use a submerged electric arc furnace for melting quartz, steel scrap together with a reductant. The hot liquid alloy is then collected in a sandbed, cooled and broken into small pieces. These small pieces are crushed further to obtain the required size. Large quantities of silica are required for preventing silicon carbide formation. Microsilica is an important byproduct obtained from this reaction.

Ferrosilicons of varying silicon content are found in the worldwide market. Ferrosilicons having a proportion of 15%, 45%, 75%, and 90% silicon can be found; the rest is comprised of iron. Other constituents like calcium and aluminum have a presence of around 2%.





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