In short, the working principle of silicon-based ferroalloys involves using high temperatures to reduce silicon dioxide to silicon via carbon. Simultaneously, silicon combines with iron to form an alloy.
Specifically, this involves three steps:
Silicon dioxide in the coke is reduced by carbon, producing silicon and carbon monoxide gas.
The reduced silicon and iron combine at high temperatures to form a stable ferrosilicon alloy.
By mixing different proportions of silicon and iron, different grades of ferrosilicon alloys can be produced, suitable for steelmaking or casting.
This process is primarily carried out in a submerged arc furnace, where temperature is crucial; excessively high or low temperatures will affect the results.
