Ferrochromium - The Raw Material for Stainless Steels

Ferrochromium is an alloy of iron and chromium. More than 80% of all chromite ore is consumed in manufacturing this alloy. It is mainly used as the chromium source for the manufacture of stainless steels and other chromium steels. HC ferrochromium with high carbon content (5-6%) is manufactured in electric furnaces with coke as the reducing agent. The process has a high energy consumption, 4000 kWh per tonne of chromium metal. Plants for ferrochromium production have therefore been located in areas with low energy prices. This was one reason why Sweden, without its own chromium deposits, was a pioneer country in this field and in the production of stainless steels. 

HC ferrochromium could earher not be used directly for manufacturing stainless steels with low carbon content With sophisticated metallurgical techniques a ferrochromium affin with carbon 0.2% was then manufactured. Owing to new methods in stainless-steel making, HC ferrochromium today can be used even for 

Nowadays the biggest manufacturers of ferrochromium are South Africa, Kazakhstan and India (see Table 24.2). 

Asia Middle East 695 India 377 China 184 Japan 123 

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