APPLICATION OF FERROALLOY PRODUCTION WASTE AS DEOXIDISING AGENT IN STEEL PRODUCTION

The object of study was 30KhGS steel melted with briquettes made from fine-dispersed dust (FDD) of ferroalloy production. The samples melted with FS50-7 were used for reference. Experimental briquettes were made from fine-dispersed dust of ferrosilicon production with the addition of iron ore concentrate, and bentonite clay was used as a binder. The chemical composition, mechanical properties, and microstructure of 30KhGS steel melted with the briquettes were studied. Mechanical tests, hardness measurements, and microstructural analysis were carried out to evaluate the performance of the steel produced. The results showed that during deoxidation with the experimental briquettes, the chemical composition and mechanical properties of steel corresponded to GOST standards for this grade. The use of such briquettes led to improved resource efficiency, reduced production costs, and minimized environmental footprint. Moreover, the briquetted product obtained via this technique can be further utilized in industrial-scale metallurgical operations. The findings suggest a promising approach for sustainable steel production through waste recycling in the ferroalloy industry. Keywords: steel, bentonite clay, Off-grade fine ferrosilicon (FFS), iron ore concentrate, fine-dispersed dust (FDD), deoxidation.