Ferrovanadium is an iron alloy that is obtained by reducing vanadium pentoxide with carbon in an electric furnace. It can also be obtained by reducing vanadium pentoxide by the silicon thermal method of an electric furnace.
It is widely used as an element additive in smelting vanadium-containing alloy steel and alloy cast iron. In recent years, it has also been used to make magnets. Its main components are vanadium and iron, and also contains impurities such as sulfur, phosphorus, silicon, and aluminum. Its main functions are as follows:
1. In ordinary low alloy steel, it mainly refines the grains, increases the strength of the steel and inhibits its aging effect.
2. In alloy structural steel, it refines the grains and increases the strength and toughness of the steel.
3. Used in conjunction with chromium or manganese in spring steel to increase the elastic limit of the steel and improve its quality.
4. In tool steel, it mainly refines the structure and grain of the steel, increases the tempering stability of the steel, enhances its secondary hardening effect, improves its wear resistance, and extends the service life of the tool.
5. In heat-resistant steel and hydrogen-resistant steel, vanadium also plays a beneficial role; the vanadium added to cast iron promotes the formation of pearlite due to the formation of carbides, stabilizes the cementite, and the shape of the graphite particles is fine and uniform. Chemicalizes the grains of the matrix, thereby improving the hardness, tensile strength and wear resistance of the casting.
