Energy-saving ferroalloy production

In the laboratory, ore–coal blends consisting of small components (ore, coal, and flux) are prepared. If the coal consumption in the reduction of metals is standardized, ferroalloys with moderate iron content may be obtained; the carbon content in the alloys may be adjusted within the range 0.80–1.5%. This fundamentally new technology for the production of ferrochrome and ferromanganese permits the replacement of electric power by fuel. That considerably reduces production costs, while improving alloy quality and reducing the environmental impact of the process.