Ferrochrome is a ferroalloy primarily composed of chromium and iron. It is one of the main alloying agents used in the steel industry. Besides the main components chromium and iron, it also contains impurities such as carbon, silicon, sulfur, and phosphorus. Ferrochrome contains 55%–75% chromium and is classified according to carbon content into high-carbon (4%–10% C), medium-carbon (0.5%–4% C), low-carbon (0.15%–0.5% C), and low-carbon (≤0.15% C) ferrochrome. High-carbon ferrochrome is also known as carbon ferrochrome, while medium, low, and low-carbon ferrochrome are also known as refined ferrochrome.
A type of high-carbon ferrochrome produced from chromium ore with a low chromium-to-iron ratio, containing 50%–55% Cr, is called furnace charge ferrochrome. There is also nitrogen-containing ferrochrome containing 2%–10% N, used as a nitrogen alloying agent, also known as ferronitride ferrochrome.
