Ferrosilicon is an alloy called silicon (Si02) with small percentage of Aluminium (Al203) and many other elements. Ferrosilicon is an alloy of iron and silicon with an average silicon content between 15 and 90 weight percent. This Ferro alloys are used for manufacturing different variety steels for different uses. Ferrosilicon is used as alloying element in manufacturing of spring steel, transformer steel and other types of alloys steels. Ferrosilicon is a alloy which helps in maintaining carbon contents in the steel at the desired level and makes it usable for different purposes.
Ferrosilicon is used as a source of silicon to reduce metals from their oxides and to deoxidize steel and other ferrous alloys. This prevents the loss of carbon from the molten steel, ferromanganese, spiegeleisen, silicides of calcium, and many other materials are used for the same purpose. It can be used to make other ferroalloys. Ferrosilicon is also used for manufacture of silicon, corrosion-resistant and high-temperature-resistant ferrous silicon alloys, and silicon steel for electromotors and transformer cores. In the manufacture of cast iron, ferrosilicon is used for inoculation of the iron to accelerate graphitization. In arc welding, ferrosilicon can be found in some electrode coatings.
The demand for ferrosilicon has been increasing with that of alloy and special steels. Owing to the lack of a viable alternative that can meet the diverse applications, the global ferro alloys market is estimated to expand at an CAGR of 5.9% till 2025. A significant share of the bulk ferro alloys are used in the production of the steel because of the low prices of the bulk ferro alloys and high production around the major producing regions. The prosperity of the building and construction industry in a number of emerging economies is another key driver of the global ferro alloys market, wherein the development of lightweight and high strength steel grades is expected to open up opportunities. On the other hand, stringent governmental regulations pertaining to the environment and high operational costs have stifled growth in the global ferro alloys market. The market for ferro alloys worldwide is projected to reach US$188.7 billion by 2025, up from US$112.8 billion in 2016. As a whole there is a good scope for new entrepreneur to invest in this business.
Few Indian major players are as under:
· Alok Ferro Alloys Ltd.
· Bhartia Bright & Seamless Steels Ltd.
· Bhaskar Shrachi Alloys Ltd.
· Centom Industries Ltd.
· Chhattisgarh Steel & Power Ltd.
· Deepak Ferro Alloys Ltd.
· Gaurang Alloys & Iron Ltd.
· Hamco Mining & Smelting Ltd.
· Hindustan Ferro & Inds. Ltd.
· Hira Ferro Alloys Ltd.
· Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys Ltd.
· Indsil Hydro Power & Manganese Ltd.
· Jai Balaji Inds. Ltd.