Silicon iron

Iron silicon alloy

Description

A silvery white iron alloy that contains 10-15% silicon. Silicon iron was first produced about 1810 by a Swedish chemist and a German physicist, working independently. The alloy is resistant to heat, acids, and corrosion, but is brittle and does not machine easily. Silicon iron is often used for cast parts in pumps and furnaces. The magnetic qualities of iron are also amplified.

Synonyms and Related Terms

ferrosilicon alloy; ferrosilicium (Fr.); ferro silicio (Port.)

Authority

• G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 715

• Dictionary of Building Preservation, Ward Bucher, ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York City, 1996

• Website address 1 Comment: Olympus Microscopy Resource Center at http://www.olympusmicro.com/galleries/abramowitz/index.html