Ferro Silicon Low Carbon

The biggest difference between low carbon ferrosilicon and ordinary ferrosilicon boils down to one word: carbon. Ordinary ferrosilicon has a carbon content of 0.2%-0.5%, while our lc ferrosilicon can achieve below 0.1%, even below 0.01%.

Why control the carbon content so low? Because some steel grades are extremely sensitive to carbon:

Automotive steel (IF steel): Carbon requirement ≤0.005%. Using ordinary ferrosilicon would exceed this limit.

Electrical steel (silicon steel): Carbon destroys magnetic properties, so extremely low-carbon ferrosilicon must be used.

Low-carbon structural steel: High carbon content affects weldability and toughness.

Therefore, if your steel production has carbon requirements, ordinary ferrosilicon cannot be used; low carbon fesi must be used. We classify our steel into three grades based on carbon content:

LC1 (carbon ≤0.1%): For ordinary low-carbon structural steel, such as Q355ND and bridge steel. This type of steel has carbon requirements, but they are not as stringent.

ULC1 (carbon ≤ 0.05%): Used for automotive steel sheets, such as DP steel and TRIP steel. This type of steel requires stamping; high carbon content will cause cracking.

SLC1 (carbon ≤ 0.01%): Used for electrical steel (silicon steel). Carbon affects magnetic properties and must be controlled to extremely low levels.

Critical Note: Silicon content correlates with application-higher Si grades (75%–80%) are used for alloying (e.g., electrical steel), while lower Si grades (65%–70%) focus on deoxidation (e.g., structural steel). Carbon content directly determines steel grade compatibility: automotive IF steel requires SLC1 (C ≤0.01%), while general low-carbon steel accepts LC1 (C ≤0.1%).

1. No Addition of Carbon to Steel:

Ordinary ferrosilicon contains 0.3%-0.5% carbon. Adding 1 kg/ton of carbon introduces 0.005% carbon into the steel. For customers making automotive IF steel, the carbon requirement is ≤0.005%, which would exceed the limit with ordinary ferrosilicon. Using our SLC1 (carbon ≤0.01%), the added carbon is negligible with the same amount.

2. No Cracking During Stamping:

A Boon for Automotive Steel Sheets: A European automotive steel manufacturer used ordinary ferrosilicon for DP600 duplex steel, which consistently cracked during stamping. After we suggested switching to ULC1 (carbon ≤0.05%), the elongation increased from 18% to 22%, and the scrap rate decreased by 35%. The customer subsequently transferred all their low-carbon steel orders to us.

3. Energy Saving: Lower Iron Loss in Electrical Steel:

Customers making transformer cores have very high requirements for the magnetic properties of silicon steel. The small amount of carbon in ordinary ferrosilicon forms "pinnings" at grain boundaries, increasing iron losses (i.e., wasting electricity). Switching to SLC1 (carbon ≤ 0.01%) reduces iron losses by 15%-20%, significantly improving the transformer's energy efficiency.

4. Cleaner – Fewer Inclusions:

The production process of low carbon ferrosilicon (such as refining) itself reduces sulfur and phosphorus levels. Therefore, using our products results in 20%-25% fewer inclusions in the steel compared to ordinary ferrosilicon.

Steel Industry

 Steelmaking Process:

During the steelmaking process, low-carbon ferrosilicon plays a crucial role as a deoxidizer and alloying agent. It is widely used in various steelmaking processes, including converter steelmaking and electric furnace steelmaking. When producing high-quality carbon steel, the addition of an appropriate amount of low-carbon ferrosilicon for deoxidation effectively improves the steel's purity and reduces its oxygen content, thereby enhancing its strength, toughness, and workability. It can also serve as an alloying agent, adjusting the silicon content in steel to meet the compositional requirements of different steel grades. For example, in the production of silicon steel sheets, precise control of silicon content is crucial for improving the steel's magnetic permeability and reducing hysteresis losses.

 Casting:

Low-carbon ferrosilicon is also indispensable in the casting of iron and steel. In the production of ductile iron, it serves as a key component of both the nodularizer and inoculant, promoting graphite spheroidization and achieving a more ideal graphite morphology within the cast iron, significantly improving the cast iron's mechanical properties, particularly strength and toughness. This makes ductile iron widely used in the manufacture of critical components such as automotive engine blocks, crankshafts, and gears, meeting modern industry's demand for high-performance casting materials.

Non-ferrous metal smelting:

Low-carbon ferrosilicon is also used as an additive in the smelting of some non-ferrous metals, such as copper and aluminum. Adding an appropriate amount of low-carbon ferrosilicon during the smelting process of copper alloys can improve their casting and mechanical properties, such as increasing their fluidity and reducing casting defects. It also enhances the alloy's strength and hardness, expanding its application in electronics and machinery manufacturing.

Other fields:

In the refractory industry, low-carbon ferrosilicon can be used to manufacture specialty refractories, improving their thermal shock resistance, wear resistance, and oxidation resistance, enabling them to operate stably and for extended periods in high-temperature, harsh industrial furnace environments. Furthermore, in the production of some chemical products, low-carbon ferrosilicon can also serve as a catalyst carrier or participate in specific chemical reactions, playing a unique role.

Q: What's the price difference between LC1, ULC1, and SLC1 grades?

A: The lower the carbon content, the higher the production cost and the more expensive it is. SLC1 (carbon ≤ 0.01%) is significantly more expensive than LC1 (carbon ≤ 0.1%). Therefore, before buying, be sure to consider: how low of a carbon level do you actually need for your steel grade? Don't waste money.

Q: Is the carbon content of your low-carbon ferrosilicon stable? I'm worried that this batch might be 0.05%, and the next batch 0.08%.

A: Stability is paramount. We test each batch with a carbon-sulfur analyzer before it leaves the factory to ensure the carbon content is within your required range. A test report is included with the shipment, and you can also conduct random checks yourself. Customers who manufacture automotive steel and electrical steel have the highest requirements for batch stability, and we have served many of them without any problems.

Q: What's the price difference between low-carbon ferrosilicon and ordinary ferrosilicon? Is it worth it?

A: Low-carbon ferrosilicon is more expensive than ordinary ferrosilicon; the specific price depends on the required carbon content. Whether it's worth it or not depends on the overall cost. If your steel grade has a high scrap rate or substandard performance due to excessive carbon content, saving that small price difference is not worthwhile at all. Therefore, the key is to consider your product positioning.

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