Metallurgical

E-SIC / TOPSIC® silicon carbide is used as a source of silicon and carbon for casting iron with low levels of impurities compared to other sources of silicon and carbon.

This silicon carbide also increases the cast iron nucleation, and consequently the final quality of the cast-iron product, in addition to reducing process costs. This silicon carbide is therefore an excellent alternative source of silicon and carbon in iron casting production processes.

SiC is also used in steel foundries and steel mills for de-oxidation and pre-treatment. It can be used in BOF / LD converters as an energy source due to the exothermic reactions during treatment.

Some of the advantages of TOPSIC®:

• The high purity of TOPSIC® results in lower contamination of residual elements that damage cast-iron products
• While ferro silicon melts at approximately 1,220°C and rapidly becomes liquid, silicon carbide remains available for a longer time which also results in better nucleation of the metal
• SiC can improve the quality of steel castings by reducing the aluminium required for de-oxidation
• Preconditioning agent that results in better quality cast-iron products
• SiC has lower levels of Al, N and H, which reduces the formation of pinholes, cracks and porosity
• SiC prevents lower undercooling which results in the predominant formation of type A graphite

The sizes of the silicon carbide grains are typically 0 x 10 mm, 1 x 10 mm. This material has a black colouration, and is used in induction furnaces and ladles. Its purity can vary from 70% to 90%, depending on the specific need of each foundry application. This material is used at the beginning of the assembly of the metal charge, preferably close to the steel scrap or in the metal stream. Lumps or briquettes are used in cupola furnaces.