Ferro Silicon is an essential element in the manufacture of steel and, in fact, is known as the ‘bridesmaid of the steel industry' since it has no substitute.

It is used primarily as an additive for deoxidation and also as an alloying element.

The container ship grounded on the Astrolabe Reef, Rena, was carrying four containers holding ferro silicon – one of these has fallen into the sea and is unaccounted for.

The product does not represent a hazard to health, safety or environment when handled and stored as advised.

Flammable and noxious gases may be formed in contact with moisture, acids or bases. FeSi-dust suspended in air may under certain conditions cause dust explosions.

Ferro silicon is produced by the reduction of quartz (SiO2) in a submerged arc electric furnace using carbon as the reducing agent. The most widely used form of carbon are charcoal, coal, and coke.
Like in Ferro / Charge Chrome, the molten alloy is tapped from the furnace hearth at regular intervals and then processed for despatch to the customers who include most of the well known names.

Source: www.imfa.in/our-business/ferro-silicon.htm

At www.fondel.com/en/fondel-commodities/products_3/, Fondel says ferro silicon is used to remove oxygen from steel and as alloying element to improve the final quality of the steel. Ferro Silicon can also be the basis for manufacture of pre-alloys like Magnesium Ferro Silicon (FeSiMg), used for modification of melted malleable iron.
Main markets are the worldwide producers of alloyed, stainless and carbon steel. One of the fastest growing categories within steel is the stainless sector, in both flat and long products. Stainless steel has a specific consumption of Ferro Silicon 5–10 times higher than regular carbon steel.
Special Ferro Silicon grades, like low Al, High Purity and low C Ferro Silicon, are used in the production of special steel qualities. Compared to regular Ferro Silicon, special grades of Ferro Silicon will help to keep both the content of inclusions and the carbon content in the final steel at very low levels.
Ferro Silicon is produced in submerged arc furnaces, using as raw material high-purity quartz, charcoal and iron ore.