High carbon silicon for converter steelmaking

High carbon silicon is a key additive in converter steelmaking, which involves the use of oxygen to remove impurities from molten iron and produce high-quality steel. High carbon silicon is made by combining silica (SiO2) and carbon (C) in an electric arc furnace, which is then crushed and sized for use in steelmaking.
When added to the converter, high carbon silicon reacts with oxygen to form silica (SiO2) and carbon monoxide (CO). The silica combines with other impurities in the molten iron, such as alumina (Al2O3) and lime (CaO), to form slag that floats to the top of the melt. Meanwhile, the carbon monoxide gas bubbles up through the metal, removing excess carbon and reducing other impurities like manganese (Mn) and phosphorous (P).
High carbon silicon is favored in converter steelmaking because it provides a dual benefit of reducing impurities while adding carbon to the melt. It typically contains around 55-70% silicon and 25-30% carbon, with trace amounts of other elements like aluminum (Al) and calcium (Ca). The carbon content can be adjusted to suit the desired steel grade, with higher carbon content yielding more brittle steel but also providing greater hardness and wear resistance.