Silicon briquette is a high-performance metallurgical auxiliary material produced by high-pressure pressing of silicon slag powder, a by-product generated during the smelting of metallic silicon. During the metallic silicon smelting process, silicon slag floats on the surface of the furnace as a kind of dross, which is rich in metallic silicon and other beneficial elements, making it an excellent deoxidizer for steelmaking.
In the current steelmaking industry, silicon briquette has gradually become a mainstream alternative to ferrosilicon, thanks to its cost-effectiveness and excellent deoxidation performance. It not only realizes the recycling of silicon slag resources but also helps steel plants significantly reduce production costs while ensuring the quality of molten steel purification, achieving the dual goals of energy conservation and efficiency improvement. Besides, it is widely used in conjunction with other ferroalloys to optimize the steelmaking process.
Latest Industry News: In 2026, the global silicon-based metallurgical auxiliary material market is showing a steady growth trend, driven by the recovery of the steel industry and the increasing emphasis on resource recycling. With the continuous advancement of smelting technology, the application scope of silicon briquette is expanding, and its performance is constantly optimized. Meanwhile, the price of silicon slag, the raw material of silicon briquette, remains stable in the first quarter of 2026, which provides a favorable guarantee for the stable production and supply of silicon briquette. In addition, the global market demand for high-purity silicon briquette (Si content ≥65%) is growing at a rate of 8% annually, reflecting the industry’s development trend towards high quality and high efficiency.
Specifications of Silicon Briquette
| Type | Si (Min) | Al (Max) | C (Max) | S (Max) | P (Max) |
| Silicon Briquette 45 | 45% | 5.0% | 6.0% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Silicon Briquette 50 | 50% | 5.0% | 6.0% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Silicon Briquette 55 | 55% | 3.0% | 5.5% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Silicon Briquette 60 | 60% | 3.0% | 5.0% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Silicon Briquette 65 | 65% | 3.0% | 5.0% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
Based on the carbon content, silicon briquette can be classified into silicon slag briquette, silicon carbon briquette, and high-carbon silicon briquette. Among them, silicon carbon briquette and high-carbon silicon briquette are also used as heating agents in the steelmaking process, which can improve the smelting efficiency and reduce energy consumption. As a green and environment-friendly ferrosilicon substitute, silicon briquette has become an important part of the low-carbon steelmaking process.
Silicon Carbon Alloy
Silicon carbon alloy is a new type of metallurgical additive, which is mainly composed of silicon and carbon. Its silicon content is between 40% and 50%, and carbon content is between 10% and 15%. It can effectively replace ferrosilicon and recarburizer in the steelmaking and casting processes, integrating deoxidation and recarburization functions, and simplifying the smelting process.
Chemical Composition of Silicon Carbon Alloy
| Code | Si (≥) | C (≥) | Al (≤) | S (≤) | P (≤) |
| Si68C18 | 68% | 18% | 3% | 0.1% | 0.05% |
| Si65C15 | 65% | 15% | 3% | 0.1% | 0.05% |
| Si60C10 | 60% | 10% | 3% | 0.1% | 0.05% |
Advantages of Silicon Carbon Alloy
It can accelerate the start-up speed of the steelmaking furnace smelting process, shorten the smelting cycle, and improve production efficiency.
It is a cost-effective alternative to traditional ferrosilicon, which can reduce the purchase cost of metallurgical materials for enterprises without affecting the product quality.
It has strong adaptability and can be mixed with different metallurgical materials according to the specific needs of customers to meet the diverse requirements of different steelmaking processes.
The pure material is pressed into a regular granular shape, which is easy to store, transport and use, reducing the loss during the operation process.
Its moderate particle size makes it easy to add and melt, ensuring the stability of the smelting process and the uniformity of the molten steel composition.
In the metallurgical industry, the “returning” technology using silicon balls is widely promoted. This technology can not only greatly reduce the furnace operation cost but also promote the polymerization of materials in the furnace, improve the utilization rate of materials, and further reduce the production cost of steel plants. Silicon balls also have the functions of spheroidizing and inoculation, which can improve the performance of castings and expand the application field of silicon-based metallurgical materials.