Technology of Chromium and Its Ferroalloys

Direct Production of Ferrochrome by Segregation Reduction of Chromite in the Presence of Calcium Chloride

“…The significant mass loss when the temperature reached 1300 °C was due to the carbothermic reduction of chromite, corresponding to an endotherm and the CO peaks. This can be represented by the much-simplified reaction Equation (1). A steeper mass loss and sharper CO peak can be observed at a higher CaCl2 addition, indicating that the carbothermic reduction of chromite can be greatly accelerated in the presence of CaCl2.…”

“…More than 90% of the high carbon ferrochrome produced, with a typical composition range of 60-70 wt % Cr, 6-8 wt % C and <5 wt % Si [1], is used for stainless steel production. The SAF process for ferrochrome production is extremely electric energy-intensive [3], with the specific energy consumption (SEC) in the range of 2.4-4.8 MWh per ton of ferrochrome produced [4].…”

“…Ferrochromium, which is a critical alloy in the production of stainless steel and high-alloying ferritic steel [1], has been produced worldwide by carbothermic smelting reduction of chromite in submerged electric arc furnaces (SAF) for almost a century [2,3]. More than 90% of the high carbon ferrochrome produced, with a typical composition range of 60-70 wt % Cr, 6-8 wt % C and <5 wt % Si [1], is used for stainless steel production.…”

Evaluation of the Furnace Method for the Production of Low Carbon Ferrochrome

“…However, only two of these (not considering the variations thereof) are considered to be commercially viable, namely the Mixing Method (such as the Perrin process) and the Furnace Method. These have been described extensively in earlier works (Gasik, 2013) and are briefly discussed in Section 2.3 of this document. Of the two methods, the most commonly used process is the Mixing Method (European IPPC Bureau, 2001).…”

“…This has an effect on a number of properties, most notably to increase corrosion and oxidation resistance (Gasik, 2013).…”