Industrial silicon and ferrosilicon are both substances containing the element silicon, and there are clear differences between the two substances in terms of definition, production process, properties, and uses.
Definition
Industrial silicon is a high-purity silicon product with a silicon content usually above 98%.
Ferrosilicon is an alloy composed mainly of silicon and iron.
Production Process
The raw material for technical silicon is quartz or silica, made by reducing the raw material in a high-temperature furnace.
Ferrosilicon is made from quartz and coke or charcoal, and is smelted in iron furnaces or electric furnaces.
Properties
Industrial silicon is characterized by good surface activity and chemical stability.
Ferrosilicon is characterized by good electrical conductivity, high temperature resistance and low oxidation.
Uses
The main use of technical silicon is as an additive for non-ferrous alloys.
The main use of ferrosilicon is as a deoxidizer in the steelmaking industry and as an inoculant and spheroidizing agent in the iron casting industry.
