Our products
Alloys
Our alloys are supplied to manufacturers of specialist nickel-based alloys and components used in the automotive, welding, steel, oil and gas, power-generation and aerospace industries.
Primary applications
Manufacture of ductile iron
Ductile iron (also called spheroidal graphite iron or nodular cast iron) has mechanical properties which approximate many steels, and comes at a significant cost advantage. Much of the annual production of nickel containing ductile iron is in the form of turbocharger housings, exhaust manifolds and nodular iron rolls used in steel –making.
Desulphurisation and deoxygenation of special alloy melts
High-purity nickel magnesium (NiMag) and nickel calcium (NiCal) alloys are used in the desulphurisation and deoxygenation of specialty steels and superalloys. The active ingredients, calcium and magnesium, aggressively target sulphur and oxygen and deport these to slag. Desulphurisation and deoxygenation of specialty steel and superalloys is a key step in ensuring these alloys meet stringent mechanical properties.
Welding
Nickel magnesium (NiMag) and ferrosilicon (FeSi) alloys in powder form are used in the superalloy and welding industries. They are deemed to produce higher quality welds and mitigate risks associated with the handling of magnesium powder.
Abrasion
Ferronickel (FeNi) shot is used in the foundry sector for shotblasting non-ferrous castings as well as a carrier of nickel for iron and steel melts.
Dense media separation
Atomised ferrosilicon (FeSi15) powder is used in the mining and aluminium scrap recycling industries for dense media separation.
Nickel master alloys for ductile irons
Nickel magnesium (NiMag) and ferronickel magnesium (FeNiMag) are ideal master alloys for ductile iron production, especially when nickel is an essential part of the final casting or alloy.
Specifications
- Nickel- and ferronickel-based master alloys
- Contains 4% to 17.5% magnesium
Applications
Treatment of iron melts: These master alloys are used as a carrier for magnesium in ductile iron production.
The high solubility of magnesium in nickel and the high specific density of these master alloys, relative to the specific density of grey iron melts, ensures a simple, cost effective and highly efficient magnesium treatment of iron melts.
The application of NiMag and FeNiMag master alloys is simple:
- Over-pouring or addition from the melt surface.
- No special ladle or treatment station is required.
- Magnesium yields of 70% to 98 % are typical
- Relatively low fume-emission.
Ferronickel magnesium (FeNiMag) 4% master alloys can be used for very small treatments (less than 100kg) as well as for magnesium adjustments, to prevent fade and correct residual magnesium before the pouring station.
The master alloys can be produced to contain other active elements such as rare earths (TRE). The two most important TRE elements are cerium and lanthanum, which combine with sulphur and oxygen within the melt and neutralise undesirable elements in the base iron. Excessive TRE levels can cause graphite degeneration and promote carbide formation, however, so we advise our customers to seek expert advice regarding the level to be used.
Ferrosilicon magnesium for ductile irons
Our ferrosilicon magnesium (FeSiMag) master alloys are used as a nodulariser in the manufacture of ductile irons, primarily when there is no nickel requirement in the final casting.
Specifications
We manufacture various grades of high-quality ferrosilicon magnesium master alloys. These master alloys can also be produced to contain rare earths.
Applications
- Ladle overpour/sandwich treatments
- Cored wire treatments
- In-mould treatments
Copper master alloys for ductile irons
Copper magnesium (CuMag) is an ideal master alloy for the production of pearlitic or carbidic nodular iron where the material being cast has a tolerance for small quantities of copper.
Specifications
We manufacture various grades of high-quality copper magnesium master alloys. These can also be produced to contain rare earths.
Due to its relatively low specific densities of 5.5g/cm³ to 5.9g/cm³, the addition of CuMag during treatment should be through an overpour to ensure optimal efficiency of the magnesium treatment.
Applications
- Ladle overpour/sandwich treatments
- Cored wire treatments
Specialty nickel master alloys for specialist steels and superalloys
High-purity nickel magnesium (NiMag) and nickel calcium (NiCal) are nickel master alloys that are produced using high-purity raw materials and used for deoxidation and desulphurization of specialty alloy melts.
Specifications
- 6g/cm³ to 8g/cm³, similar to specific densities of grey iron and steel base melts
Applications
NiMag and NiCal are ideal for metallurgical applications where a deoxidisation or desulphurisation step is required
These alloys can be introduced to the melt simply, ensuring a moderate reaction with low fume and high yield. NiMag and NiCal are very powerful deoxidisers and desulphurisers, producing a higher cleanliness of the melt after treatment.
Production of nickel-based specialist steels and superalloys
The demanding operating environments of specialist steels and superalloys, where mechanical strength, wear properties, corrosion resistance, fatigue and creep are critical considerations, requires that only the highest quality master alloys and feed materials are applied in their production.
Our high-purity range of nickel-based master alloys is key to ensuring oxygen and sulphur are removed from specialist steel and superalloy melts, and that no other deleterious elements are introduced into the process.
Nickel- and iron-based master-alloy powders for welding
High-purity nickel magnesium (NiMag) and ferrosilicon (FeSi45) master alloys in powder form are used for nickel- and iron-based welding.
Specifications
- Nickel-based alloys containing 14% to 18% magnesium, with particle-size distributions in the sub-250 micron range.
- Iron-based master alloys containing 44% to 49% silicon, with particle-size distributions in the sub-355 micron range.
Applications
NiMag master-alloy powders have various nickel-based welding applications and used in eletroslag remelting, a refining process used to produce high-purity nickel-based superalloys.
NiMag powders are powerful deoxidisers and desulphurisers, ensuring cleanliness in application, and are far more stable carriers of magnesium than magnesium in its pure form.
Our water atomised FeSi45 powder is used primarily in the coatings of welding electrodes and rods.
Silicon acts as a powerful de-oxidiser during high-temperature welding. It improves the fluidity of the weld pool, contributes to a protective slag layer over the molten weld pool and prevents porosity defects.
Ferronickel alloys for abrasion
High-purity ferronickel (FeNi) in granular form shot is added to iron melts to ensure the rapid melting of the nickel. It is also used as shot-blast for stainless steel and non-ferrous castings.
Specifications
- High-purity ferronickel shot containing 8% to 10% nickel.
Applications
- Shot-blasting of stainless steel and non-ferrous castings
- Lowering the melting point of nickel for iron melts.
Atomised ferrosilicon for dense media separation
Atomised ferrosilicon (FeSi15) is used extensively as a dense media separator in aluminium recycling, and in the chrome and iron-ore mining industries.
Specifications
- Atomised ferrosilicon powder contains 14% to 16% silicon
Applications
- Recycling of non-ferrous scrap.
- Beneficiation of iron and base metal ores.
- Various dense media separation processes. Materials are separated from each other based on their different densities – a float–sink type separation. The atomised ferrosilicon powder is suspended in water, in a dense-medium vessel such as a cyclone or rotating drum. to create a uniform medium of SG 3.0 to SG 3.8, depending on the amount of powder added. The medium is then used to separate different materials from each other.
| Products | Ductile Iron | Ni-Resist Ductile Iron | Specialty Steels | Superalloys | Welding | Abrasion | Mining | Recycling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NiMag | ||||||||
| FeNiMag | ||||||||
| FeSiMag | ||||||||
| CuMag | ||||||||
| NiCal | ||||||||
| FeSi45 | ||||||||
| FeNi | ||||||||
| FeSi15 |
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