Apart from being a powerful deoxidizer - because of its strong affinity for oxygen - silicon has an important influence on the properties of steel, depending on the amount used and the combined effect with other elements. Silicon increases namely strength and wear resistance, elasticity (spring steels), scale resistance (heat resistant steels), and lowers electrical conductivity and magnetostriction (electrical steels). HP FeSi is used when stringent demands are put on steel cleanliness. Compared to regular ferrosilicon, HP FeSi will help to keep both the content of inclusions and the carbon content in the final steel at very low levels. HP FeSi is therefore very well suited for the alloying of steels for ball bearings, plastic moulds, flapper valves, tire cord and grain oriented electrical steels. |