Ferrophosphorus Facts: Read About This Alloy Of Iron & Phosphorus
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Ferrophosphorus is a metallic alloy made of iron and phosphorus.
It has a silver-white color and a very high melting point. Ferrophosphorus is used in many industrial applications, and it is becoming increasingly popular in the manufacture of steel.
Reading further, you will learn the properties of ferrophosphorus and some of its industrial uses.
Discovery And History
Ferrophosphorus is a reactive metal alloy made up of two elements: iron and phosphorus.
The element of phosphorus was first discovered in 1669 by Henning Brand, who was a merchant by profession and an alchemist by passion. After several years of this discovery, in 1868, a French mining engineer and geologist, Pierre Berthier (who was known for his utilization of phosphates in plants), created ferrophosphorus.
By the 1870s, smelting of phosphorus, phosphoric acid, and ferrophosphorus using electric furnaces had become common.
There are different kinds of phosphorus, like white phosphorus, red phosphorus, and yellow phosphorus. The primary source of ferrophosphorus is currently the yellow phosphorus industry.
Phosphorus minerals are abundant in nature, with phosphorite and apatite serving as the most common ores for commercial use. Phosphate resources are mostly found in Africa, South America, the Middle East, North America, and Asia on a global scale.
China produces more than 36.4 million tons (37 million met ton) of phosphate rock per year, significantly higher than that produced in the United States, Western Sahara, and Morocco combined.
Composition Of Ferrophosphorus
Ferrophosphorus is an iron alloy with large amounts of phosphorus.
Its chemical composition includes 70% iron, 20-26% phosphorus, and minimal amounts of manganese, silicon, titanium, vanadium, and other elements.
The main iron phosphorus oxides are Fe2P, Fe3P, FeP2, and FeP.
Applications And Uses Of Ferrophosphorus
Ferrophosphorus is rarely utilized in its pure form; instead, it is frequently alloyed with other metals to generate a variety of goods.
This iron alloy is primarily employed in the smelting process in the steel industry. The addition of ferrophosphorus to steel increases its corrosion resistance and strength. It also enhances the fluidity of molten iron and the surface quality of cast iron, which improves the casting performance of iron alloys.
Grey cast iron includes 5% ferrophosphorus, which increases its tensile strength and makes it resistant to corrosion. Apart from the steel industry, ferrophosphorus is employed in the chemical industry. It is processed with soda ash to create sodium dihydrogen phosphate and trisodium phosphate.
This iron and phosphorous combination has a variety of uses, including the production of phosphorous castings and high-strength special steels with low alloy content (HSLA). In the steel industry, ferrophosphorus is used as a deoxidizing, dehydrating, and drying agent in steel production.
Material Properties Of Ferrophosphorus
Take a look at the material properties of ferrophosphorus below.
Ferrophosphorus is made by combining iron (atomic number 26) and phosphorus (atomic number 15). The melting point and boiling point of ferrophosphorus vary depending on the concentration of phosphorus content.
While the boiling point of phosphorus is around 494.6 F (257 C), the melting point ranges between 2012-2282 F (1100-1250 C). Ferrophosphorus can also create noxious gases when it reacts with oxidizing acids.
The key properties of ferrophosphorus are corrosion resistance, good adhesion, wear resistance, high magnetism, and good electrical and thermal conductivity. Due to its useful properties, it is widely used in the steel industry to increase the corrosion resistance in steel.
It is also used as an alloying agent in the steel industry to make phosphate. Like phosphorus oxides, it functions as an excellent dehydrating agent that may easily remove water from alloys during their production.
FAQs
What is ferrophosphorus used for?
Ferrophosphorus is primarily used in the steel industry to provide strength and corrosion resistance steel while also working as a deoxidizing agent. It is also employed in the chemical industry to produce alloys.
How is ferrophosphorus made?
Ferrophosphorus can be produced using two methods. The first one is primarily for ferrophosphorus production, resulting in phosphorus as a by-product, and the other is mostly for yellow phosphorus production, with ferrophosphorus as a by-product. Electric furnaces are generally used for ferrophosphorus production.
Does iron react with phosphorus?
Yes, phosphorus can react with iron to produce phosphide.
Is ferrophosphorus magnetic?
Ferrophosphorus is magnetic. It is used to manufacture steels with favorable magnetic properties.
Is ferrophosphorus the same as stainless steel?
No, ferrophosphorus and stainless steel are different. While stainless steel is an alloy made up of iron and chromium, ferrophosphorus is an alloy made of iron and phosphorus.
What is the melting point of ferrophosphorus?
The melting point of ferrophosphorus depends on the concentration of phosphorus content. Mostly, it ranges between 2012-2282 F (1100-1250 C).
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https://www.phoolchand.com/ferro-phosphorus.html
http://www.sialloy.com/products/ferro-phosphorus.html
http://www.sialloy.com/blog/usage-of-ferro-phosphorus.html
http://www.sialloy.com/blog/ferro-phosphorus-properties.html
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Bachelor of Business Administration, Master of Science specializing in Management
Akshita RanaBachelor of Business Administration, Master of Science specializing in Management
With a Master's in Management from the University of Manchester and a degree in Business Management from St. Xavier's, Jaipur, India, Akshita has worked as a content writer in the education sector. She previously collaborated with a school and an education company to improve their content, showcasing her skills in writing and education. Akshita is multilingual and enjoys photography, poetry, and art in her free time, which allows her to bring a creative touch to her work as a writer at Kidadl.
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