Ferroalloys (steelmaking master alloys) FeMo, FeMn, FeV, FeTi
Iron master alloys: ferromolybdenum (Fe-Mo), ferromanganese (Fe-Mn), ferrovanadium (Fe-V) and ferrotitanium (Fe-Ti) · CAS 12604-53-4 (ferromanganese); 12604-58-9 (ferrovanadium)
Ferroalloys are iron-based master alloys that carry one alloying element into molten steel.
Evidence level
2 of 5
Lab-measured
- 0Predicted only. No one has made it, or no measurement exists.
- 1Calculated. Only calculated or predicted values from sources.
- 2Lab-measured. Measured properties with their conditions stated.
- 3Space-relevant tests. Measured in conditions relevant to space, such as vacuum or atomic oxygen.
- 4Ground-qualified. Qualified for an application on the ground.
- 5Flown or field-proven. Flight or field results exist.
Molybdenum dose
60 to 70 %
Manganese dose
60 to 70 %
Vanadium dose
60 to 70 %
Titanium dose
60 to 70 %
Melting point
1800 to 1900 °C
Recipe, share of the weight
- Fe balance (the rest) in every gradeIron
- Mo 60 to 70%Molybdenum
- Mn 74 to 95%Manganese
- V 35 to 85%Vanadium
- Ti 45 to 75%Titanium
- C 0.10 max in ferromolybdenum; up to 6 in high-carbon ferromanganeseCarbon
- Si 1.00 max (soluble) in ferromolybdenumSilicon
Best for
Adding molybdenum, manganese, vanadium or titanium to the melt of structural, high-strength low-alloy and stainless steels in a controlled, known amount
Weakest at
Grade-to-grade variation in composition and melting point, dust hazards from the powders, and no corrosion or moisture data for the alloys themselves
Risk at a glance
- People Low. Dust is the main hazard
- If it fails Moderate. Dust explosion in a powder store or grinding area
- Corrosion No data. No corrosion data recorded
Quick facts: FeMo, FeMn, FeV, FeTi
| Property | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 7.3 to 9 g/cm³ | 2 sourced values across conditions |
| Melting point | 1,200 to 1,900 °C | 4 sourced values across conditions |
What is the density of Ferroalloys?
Ferroalloys has a density of 7.3 to 9 g/cm³. The range covers 2 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What is the melting point of Ferroalloys?
Ferroalloys has a melting point of 1,200 to 1,900 °C. The range covers 4 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What is Ferroalloys used for?
Uses recorded in the sources include High-strength low-alloy structural steel; Cast iron, steel and superalloys; Alloy steels as a hardener and strengthener.
Why it exists
Ferroalloys are iron master alloys that carry one element into a steel melt. Each one in this profile carries a different element: molybdenum for alloying HSLA steel, manganese for steels including stainless, vanadium as a hardener and strengthener, and titanium as a cleansing agent and deoxidizer. The four alloys differ in composition and melting point, so every figure here is kept with the grade it belongs to.
Where it's used
Structural and high-strength low-alloy steel
Ferromolybdenum is the main source of molybdenum for alloying high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steel, and it is added to the melt before casting (Wikipedia). USGS says molybdenum is used principally as an alloying agent in cast iron, steel and superalloys.
Hardened and strengthened alloy steels
Ferrovanadium is a universal hardener and strengthener for steels, and USGS says more than 90 percent of 2025 US reported vanadium consumption was metallurgical, mainly as an alloying agent for iron and steel.
Deoxidizing and cleansing steel
Ferrotitanium is used as a cleansing agent and deoxidizer for iron and steel, and sometimes for desulfurization and denitrogenation (Wikipedia).
Carbon, low-alloy and stainless steels
Ferromanganese is the processed manganese source for adding manganese to steels, including stainless steel. USGS says the metal has no satisfactory substitute in its major applications.
Recipe
Iron master alloys: ferromolybdenum (Fe-Mo), ferromanganese (Fe-Mn), ferrovanadium (Fe-V) and ferrotitanium (Fe-Ti)
Each ferroalloy is iron carrying one added element at a large dose. Ferromolybdenum is 60 to 70 percent molybdenum, ferromanganese is 74 to 95 percent manganese, ferrovanadium is 35 to 85 percent vanadium (FeV80 is the most common) and ferrotitanium is 45 to 75 percent titanium. Ferromolybdenum is made by heating molybdenum oxide with aluminium and iron, ferrovanadium by aluminothermic reduction of V2O5 in an electric arc furnace, ferromanganese by reduction in a submerged arc furnace, and ferrotitanium by melting titanium sponge and scrap with iron in an induction furnace (Wikipedia).
| Ingredient | Share of the weight | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Iron Fe | balance (the rest) in every grade | The carrier metal. It dissolves the alloying element into the steel melt. |
| Molybdenum Mo | 60 to 70% | The alloying element for high-strength low-alloy steel (ferromolybdenum). |
| Manganese Mn | 74 to 95% | The alloying element added to carbon, low-alloy and stainless steels (ferromanganese). |
| Vanadium V | 35 to 85% | Hardens and strengthens steel (ferrovanadium). |
| Titanium Ti | 45 to 75% | Cleanses and deoxidizes the melt, and refines grain (ferrotitanium). |
| Carbon C | 0.10 max in ferromolybdenum; up to 6 in high-carbon ferromanganese | An impurity in most ferroalloys. The limit is set per grade. |
| Silicon Si | 1.00 max (soluble) in ferromolybdenum | An impurity in most ferroalloys. Held to a maximum in each grade. |
Weight shares are as printed in the sources.
What it can do
Molybdenum dose
60 to 70 %
measured
Ferromolybdenum (FeMo 60/70) is 60 to 70 percent molybdenum by weight, with carbon at most 0.10 percent and phosphorus at most 0.05 percent (Climax datasheet).
Manganese dose
60 to 70 %
measured
Ferromanganese is typically 74 to 95 percent manganese (USGS). The high-carbon grade can carry up to 6 percent carbon, while the low-carbon grade has less than 2 percent (Wikipedia).
Vanadium dose
60 to 70 %
measured
Ferrovanadium ranges from 35 to 85 percent vanadium, and FeV80 is the most common grade (Wikipedia). USGS prices the US ferrovanadium at 78 to 82 percent vanadium.
Titanium dose
60 to 70 %
measured
Ferrotitanium ranges from 45 to 75 percent titanium, with 10 to 20 percent iron (Wikipedia).
Melting point
1800 to 1900 °C
measured
Ferromanganese melts at 1200 to 1300 °C (Wikipedia). Ferrovanadium melts at about 1480 °C, which NIOSH gives as 2696 to 2768 °F. A chemical database gives ferromolybdenum 1800 to 1900 °C.
How it compares
The four alloys melt at different temperatures and carry different doses. Ferromanganese, at 1200 to 1300 °C, melts lowest. Ferrovanadium, at about 1480 °C, sits in the middle. Ferromolybdenum is given as 1800 to 1900 °C by a chemical database, which is above the other two. Ferrotitanium has no melting figure in the sources read. Dose ranges also differ: manganese 74 to 95 percent, molybdenum 60 to 70 percent, vanadium 35 to 85 percent and titanium 45 to 75 percent.
The same measurements for each material, so you can compare them. Each row names the key condition under the value; the full conditions and methods are in the numbered notes under Technical details.
| Measurement | FeMo, FeMn, FeV, FeTi |
|---|---|
| Thermal behavior and safety | |
| Melting point, ferromolybdenum | 1800 to 1900 °C1 |
| Melting point, ferromanganese | 1200 to 1300 °C3 |
| Melting point, ferrovanadium | 1480 °C5 |
| Melting point, ferrovanadium (NIOSH) | 2696 to 2768 °F6 |
| Physical and electrical | |
| Density, ferromolybdenum | 9 g/cm³2 |
| Density, ferromanganese | 7.3 g/cm³4 |
| Other measurements | |
| Molybdenum content, ferromolybdenum (FeMo 60/70) | 60 to 70 %7 |
| Carbon limit, ferromolybdenum (FeMo 60/70) | < 0.1 %8 |
| Sulfur limit, ferromolybdenum (FeMo 60/70) | < 0.15 %9 |
| Phosphorus limit, ferromolybdenum (FeMo 60/70) | < 0.05 %10 |
| Silicon limit, ferromolybdenum (FeMo 60/70) | < 1 %11 |
| Copper limit, ferromolybdenum (FeMo 60/70) | < 0.5 %12 |
| Manganese content, ferromanganese | 74 to 95 %13 |
| Carbon content, high-carbon ferromanganese | < 6 %14 |
| Vanadium content, ferrovanadium | 35 to 85 %15 |
| Vanadium content, US ferrovanadium price grade | 78 to 82 %16 |
| Titanium content, ferrotitanium | 45 to 75 %17 |
| Iron content, ferrotitanium | 10 to 20 %18 |
Why choose it, and why not
Good for
- Adding a precise dose of molybdenum, manganese, vanadium or titanium to a steel melt.
- Deoxidizing and cleansing steel with ferrotitanium.
Watch out for
- Dust from the powders can irritate the eyes and lungs, and ferrovanadium dust caused bronchitis and pneumonitis in animals at high concentration (Wikipedia; NIOSH).
- Grade-to-grade composition varies a lot. Quote the grade with every number, since the dose ranges overlap between sources.
- No corrosion or moisture-reaction data were found for the alloys themselves, so storage advice rests on the supplier SDS alone.
Ferroalloys are the usual way to put molybdenum, manganese, vanadium or titanium into steel. Dose depends on grade, and the powders need dust control and dry storage. The file has no corrosion data and no melting point for ferrotitanium.
Technical details
For scientists and researchers. Everything above comes from the record below: every number with its method, its conditions and its source.
Notes
The method, full conditions and any caveat for the numbered rows above.
| # | Measurement | Method | Conditions | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melting point, ferromolybdenum | Property text on a chemical database page, printed as 1800 to 1900 degrees C; a database summary, not a manufacturer datasheet | grade industrial ferromolybdenum, about 60 percent Mobasis range as printed | Second-hand database figure; no manufacturer melting value for ferromolybdenum was found. |
| 2 | Density, ferromolybdenum | Property text on a chemical database page, printed as approximately 9.0 g/cm3 | grade industrial ferromolybdenum, about 60 percent Mobasis approximate figure as printed | Second-hand database figure, stated as approximate. |
| 3 | Melting point, ferromanganese | Physical and chemical properties section of the Wikipedia article, printed as between 1,200 and 1,300 degrees C | grade ferromanganese, carbon grade not statedbasis range as printed | — |
| 4 | Density, ferromanganese | Physical and chemical properties section of the Wikipedia article, printed as generally around 7.3 g/cm3 and varying slightly with impurities | grade ferromanganese, impurity content not statedbasis figure printed as generally around 7.3 g/cm3 | — |
| 5 | Melting point, ferrovanadium | Infobox of the Wikipedia article, printed as 1,480 °C (2,700 °F; 1,750 K); the Celsius value is recorded | grade ferrovanadium, composition not stated (FeV80 is the most common grade)basis single value from the infobox | — |
| 6 | Melting point, ferrovanadium (NIOSH) | NIOSH Pocket Guide, melting point row, printed as 2696 to 2768 degrees F; values kept in the printed unit | grade ferrovanadium, usually 50 to 80 percent vanadium as printed by NIOSHbasis range as printed in Fahrenheit | — |
| 7 | Molybdenum content, ferromolybdenum (FeMo 60/70) | Specifications table of the Climax product datasheet, Molybdenum (Mo) row printed as 60.00 to 70.00 percent by weight | element Mograde Climax FeMo 60/70basis percent by weight, range as printed | — |
| 8 | Carbon limit, ferromolybdenum (FeMo 60/70) | Specifications table of the Climax product datasheet, Carbon (C) row printed as 0.10 max | element Cgrade Climax FeMo 60/70basis maximum as printed | — |
| 9 | Sulfur limit, ferromolybdenum (FeMo 60/70) | Specifications table of the Climax product datasheet, Sulfur (S) row printed as 0.15 max | element Sgrade Climax FeMo 60/70basis maximum as printed | — |
| 10 | Phosphorus limit, ferromolybdenum (FeMo 60/70) | Specifications table of the Climax product datasheet, Phosphorus (P) row printed as 0.05 max | element Pgrade Climax FeMo 60/70basis maximum as printed | — |
| 11 | Silicon limit, ferromolybdenum (FeMo 60/70) | Specifications table of the Climax product datasheet, Silicon (Si) (Soluble) row printed as 1.00 max | element Si (soluble)grade Climax FeMo 60/70basis maximum as printed | — |
| 12 | Copper limit, ferromolybdenum (FeMo 60/70) | Specifications table of the Climax product datasheet, Copper (Cu) row printed as 0.50 max | element Cugrade Climax FeMo 60/70basis maximum as printed | — |
| 13 | Manganese content, ferromanganese | Footnote 1 of the USGS Salient Statistics table, printed as manganese content typically ranging from 74 to 95 percent for ferromanganese | element Mngrade ferromanganese, typical rangebasis manganese content range as printed | — |
| 14 | Carbon content, high-carbon ferromanganese | Production section of the Wikipedia article, printed as high-carbon ferromanganese can have a carbon content of up to 6 percent | element Cgrade high-carbon ferromanganesebasis upper limit as printed | — |
| 15 | Vanadium content, ferrovanadium | Composition section of the Wikipedia article, printed as vanadium content in ferrovanadium ranges from 35 percent to 85 percent | element Vgrade ferrovanadium, all gradesbasis range as printed; FeV80 is the most common grade | — |
| 16 | Vanadium content, US ferrovanadium price grade | Events, Trends and Issues section of the USGS vanadium chapter, printed as the estimated United States ferrovanadium price (78 percent to 82 percent vanadium content) | element Vgrade US ferrovanadium quoted by USGS for its 2025 pricebasis range as printed | — |
| 17 | Titanium content, ferrotitanium | Lead section of the Wikipedia article, printed as 45 to 75 percent titanium | element Tigrade ferrotitanium, all gradesbasis range as printed | — |
| 18 | Iron content, ferrotitanium | Lead section of the Wikipedia article, printed as between 10 and 20 percent iron | element Fegrade ferrotitanium, all gradesbasis range as printed | — |
Corrosion and compatibility
What happens when it meets other materials and environments.
| Environment | Concern | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Steel made with ferrovanadium | not rated | Wikipedia says ferrovanadium improves corrosion resistance in steel, but gives no rate.1 |
| Stored lump or powder in a warehouse | not rated | The ferromanganese SDS asks for sealed containers in a cool, dry store, but gives no corrosion rate.2 |
| # | Environment | Details | Test conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steel made with ferrovanadium | The Wikipedia article calls ferrovanadium a universal hardener, strengthener and anti-corrosive additive for steels, and says it improves corrosion resistance to alkaline reagents as well as sulfuric and hydrochloric acids. No corrosion rate or test is given for any ferrovanadium grade, and the statement describes the steel, not the alloy powder. | basis qualitative statement for steel containing the alloy; no test conditions given |
| 2 | Stored lump or powder in a warehouse | The supplier SDS for ferromanganese says to keep the container tightly sealed and store it in a cool, dry place in tightly closed containers. It gives no corrosion rate, moisture-uptake figure or reaction test. | basis storage advice only; no exposure duration or humidity stated |
Risks and side effects
Hazards to people, what happens when a cell overheats, and how the material is handled and stored.
For people
The SDS and NIOSH entries point to dust and fume, not to acute toxicity of the lump.
- Ferromanganese
- The supplier SDS classes it as Warning, with H319 for serious eye irritation and H335 for respiratory irritation.
- Ferrovanadium
- Wikipedia lists H320, H335 and H373; NIOSH gives a 1 mg/m3 TWA and a 500 mg/m3 IDLH for the dust.
- Dust
- Avoid breathing dust, fume, gas, mist or spray (SDS precaution P261).
In a fire or in storage
The SDS says water is an unsuitable extinguishing agent and that metal oxide fume is released.
- Fire
- Use special powder for metal fires; do not use water on a ferromanganese fire.
- Storage
- Keep the container tightly sealed in a cool, dry place.
Dust explosion
The metal is noncombustible, but its dust may be an explosion hazard, according to NIOSH.
- Minimum concentration
- NIOSH gives a minimum explosive concentration of 1.3 g/m3 for ferrovanadium dust.
Test details
The original wording and numbers from the sources, for readers who want them.
Failure risks
| Failure | Trigger and consequence |
|---|---|
| Dust explosion in a powder store or grinding areamoderate severity | Airborne dust at or above the minimum explosive concentrationNIOSH gives a minimum explosive concentration of 1.3 g/m3 for ferrovanadium dust and says the dust may be an explosion hazard, although the metal is noncombustible. |
| Respiratory and eye irritation from powder handlingmoderate severity | Dust or fume above the 1 mg/m3 TWA, without a dust controlEye and respiratory irritation, with chronic bronchitis and pneumonitis in animals at high concentration (Wikipedia; NIOSH target organs and symptoms). |
| Fire fought with watermoderate severity | A fire involving ferromanganese powder or lumpThe SDS lists water as an unsuitable extinguishing agent, names special powder for metal fires, and says metal oxide fume is released in a fire. |
Handling and storage
- Keep the container tightly sealed and store it in a cool, dry place in tightly closed containers, with good ventilation at the workplace (ferromanganese SDS, section 7).
- NIOSH respirator guidance for ferrovanadium dust: up to 10 mg/m3, any particulate respirator with an N95, R95 or P95 filter; up to 500 mg/m3, a supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece run in a positive-pressure mode.
- Use special powder for metal fires and do not use water on a ferromanganese fire (SDS, section 5).
Mitigations
- Avoid breathing dust, fume, gas, mist, vapours or spray (ferromanganese SDS precaution P261), and wear protective gloves and eye protection (P280).
- Keep the material away from strong oxidizers, which NIOSH lists as incompatible with ferrovanadium.
Supply and geography
How common the raw materials are and where they come from.
Molybdenum (world mine production, 2025e)
World mine production in 2025e was 260,000 metric tons of molybdenum content (USGS, rounded total). China 97,000; Chile 42,000; United States 40,000; Peru 39,000.
- Top producers (2025)
- China, Chile, United States, Peru
- Critical mineral lists
- US: not listed
- Recycling
- USGS: molybdenum is recycled as a component of catalysts, ferrous scrap and superalloy scrap, and the amount recycled may be as much as 30 percent of apparent supply.
- Substitutes
- USGS: there is little substitution for molybdenum in steels and cast irons; boron, chromium, niobium, vanadium and tungsten are named as potential substitutes in alloy steels.
Ferromolybdenum imports (United States, 2021 to 2024)
Ferromolybdenum import sources were Chile 74 percent, Republic of Korea 21 percent, United Kingdom 4 percent and other 1 percent.
- Top producers (2024)
- Chile, Republic of Korea
Manganese (world mine production, 2025e)
Manganese ore mine production in 2025e was 20,000 thousand metric tons of manganese content (USGS, rounded total). South Africa 7,600; Gabon 5,000; Ghana 2,000; Australia 1,600; China 700. South Africa holds an estimated 70 percent of world manganese resources.
- Top producers (2025)
- South Africa, Gabon, Ghana, Australia, China
- Critical mineral lists
- US: listed
- Recycling
- USGS: manganese is recovered along with iron from steel slag, and scrap recovery specifically for manganese was negligible.
- Substitutes
- USGS: manganese has no satisfactory substitute in its major applications.
Manganese (United States import reliance)
No manganese ore containing 20 percent or more manganese has been produced domestically since 1970. Net import reliance was 100 percent of apparent consumption in 2025e. In 2025 US ferromanganese imports were an estimated 350 thousand metric tons (from the Salient Statistics table).
Ferromanganese import sources (2021 to 2024)
Ferromanganese imports came from Malaysia 26 percent, Australia 16 percent, Norway 16 percent, South Africa 14 percent and other sources 28 percent.
- Top producers (2024)
- Malaysia, Australia, Norway, South Africa
Vanadium (world mine production, 2025e)
World vanadium mine production in 2025e was 110,000 metric tons of vanadium content (USGS, rounded total). China 82,000; Russia 21,000; Brazil 5,300; South Africa 5,000. Most of China's output is a coproduct of titanomagnetite processed in steelmaking. Secondary production from ash, residues and spent catalysts was 7,500 metric tons in 2025e.
- Top producers (2025)
- China, Russia, Brazil, South Africa
- Critical mineral lists
- US: listed
- Recycling
- USGS: recycling is mainly associated with reprocessing vanadium catalysts into new catalysts.
- Substitutes
- USGS: steels with other alloying elements can replace vanadium steels; manganese, molybdenum, niobium, titanium and tungsten are interchangeable with vanadium to some degree.
Ferrovanadium imports (United States)
US ferrovanadium imports were 2,200 metric tons in 2025e. Import sources for 2021 to 2024 were Canada 50 percent, Austria 35 percent, Russia 6 percent and Latvia 4 percent.
- Top producers (2024)
- Canada, Austria
Titanium (world sponge production, 2025)
World titanium sponge production was 370,000 metric tons in 2025 (USGS, rounded total). China 260,000; Japan 53,000; Russia 25,000; Kazakhstan 16,000; Saudi Arabia 12,000. The United States produced no sponge in 2025 and imported about 44,000 tons. Ferrotitanium is a separate product from the sponge figures.
- Top producers (2025)
- China, Japan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia
- Critical mineral lists
- US: listed
- Recycling
- USGS: a Virginia company began commercial titanium powder production from titanium scrap in late 2024 and aimed to reach 1,400 tons per year in 2027.
- Substitutes
- USGS: aluminum, nickel, specialty steels and zirconium alloys may replace titanium where corrosion resistance is required (sponge metal context, not ferrotitanium).
Documents
Datasheets, safety data sheets, papers and standards you can open.
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spore: profile
id: ferroalloys
spore_version: 0.2
family: ferroalloys
name: Ferroalloys (steelmaking master alloys)
abbreviation: FeMo, FeMn, FeV, FeTi
role: steelmaking additive (iron master alloys)
category: metals
type: steels-and-stainless
summary: |
Ferroalloys are iron-based master alloys that carry one alloying element into molten steel. The four covered here are ferromolybdenum (about 60 to 70 percent molybdenum), ferromanganese (74 to 95 percent manganese in the USGS typical range), ferrovanadium (35 to 85 percent vanadium, with FeV80 the most common grade) and ferrotitanium (45 to 75 percent titanium). They are added to the melt, so they set the chemistry of the steel rather than forming a part on their own. Their dust is the main health concern in the sources read, and their composition depends on the grade.
best_for: Adding molybdenum, manganese, vanadium or titanium to the melt of structural, high-strength low-alloy and stainless steels in a controlled, known amount
weakest_at: Grade-to-grade variation in composition and melting point, dust hazards from the powders, and no corrosion or moisture data for the alloys themselves
identity:
formula: 'Iron master alloys: ferromolybdenum (Fe-Mo), ferromanganese (Fe-Mn), ferrovanadium (Fe-V) and ferrotitanium (Fe-Ti)'
cas: 12604-53-4 (ferromanganese); 12604-58-9 (ferrovanadium)
source: usgs-mn-2026
where: Salient Statistics footnote 1 (ferromanganese 74 to 95 percent manganese); CAS numbers from the ferromanganese SDS and the NIOSH ferrovanadium entry
tags:
environments: []
stresses: []
applications:
- structures
properties:
- benchmark: melting_point
label: Melting point, ferromolybdenum
value: 1800
value_high: 1900
bound: range
unit: °C
scope: material
conditions:
grade: industrial ferromolybdenum, about 60 percent Mo
basis: range as printed
method: Property text on a chemical database page, printed as 1800 to 1900 degrees C; a database summary, not a manufacturer datasheet
status: ground
note: Second-hand database figure; no manufacturer melting value for ferromolybdenum was found.
source: chemicalbook-femo
where: Ferromolybdenum property text, melting temperature sentence
- benchmark: density
label: Density, ferromolybdenum
value: 9
unit: g/cm3
scope: material
conditions:
grade: industrial ferromolybdenum, about 60 percent Mo
basis: approximate figure as printed
method: Property text on a chemical database page, printed as approximately 9.0 g/cm3
status: ground
note: Second-hand database figure, stated as approximate.
source: chemicalbook-femo
where: Ferromolybdenum property text, density sentence
- benchmark: melting_point
label: Melting point, ferromanganese
value: 1200
value_high: 1300
bound: range
unit: °C
scope: material
conditions:
grade: ferromanganese, carbon grade not stated
basis: range as printed
method: Physical and chemical properties section of the Wikipedia article, printed as between 1,200 and 1,300 degrees C
status: ground
source: wiki-femn
where: Physical and chemical properties section, melting point sentence
- benchmark: density
label: Density, ferromanganese
value: 7.3
unit: g/cm3
scope: material
conditions:
grade: ferromanganese, impurity content not stated
basis: figure printed as generally around 7.3 g/cm3
method: Physical and chemical properties section of the Wikipedia article, printed as generally around 7.3 g/cm3 and varying slightly with impurities
status: ground
source: wiki-femn
where: Physical and chemical properties section, density sentence
- benchmark: melting_point
label: Melting point, ferrovanadium
value: 1480
unit: °C
scope: material
conditions:
grade: ferrovanadium, composition not stated (FeV80 is the most common grade)
basis: single value from the infobox
method: Infobox of the Wikipedia article, printed as 1,480 °C (2,700 °F; 1,750 K); the Celsius value is recorded
status: ground
source: wiki-fev
where: Infobox, melting point row
- benchmark: melting_point
label: Melting point, ferrovanadium (NIOSH)
value: 2696
value_high: 2768
bound: range
unit: °F
scope: material
conditions:
grade: ferrovanadium, usually 50 to 80 percent vanadium as printed by NIOSH
basis: range as printed in Fahrenheit
method: NIOSH Pocket Guide, melting point row, printed as 2696 to 2768 degrees F; values kept in the printed unit
status: ground
source: niosh-fev
where: Melting point row, physical description note
- benchmark: alloy_content
label: Molybdenum content, ferromolybdenum (FeMo 60/70)
value: 60
value_high: 70
bound: range
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
element: Mo
grade: Climax FeMo 60/70
basis: percent by weight, range as printed
method: Specifications table of the Climax product datasheet, Molybdenum (Mo) row printed as 60.00 to 70.00 percent by weight
status: ground
source: climax-femo
where: Specifications table, Molybdenum (Mo) row
- benchmark: alloy_content
label: Carbon limit, ferromolybdenum (FeMo 60/70)
value: 0.1
bound: upper
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
element: C
grade: Climax FeMo 60/70
basis: maximum as printed
method: Specifications table of the Climax product datasheet, Carbon (C) row printed as 0.10 max
status: ground
source: climax-femo
where: Specifications table, Carbon (C) row
- benchmark: alloy_content
label: Sulfur limit, ferromolybdenum (FeMo 60/70)
value: 0.15
bound: upper
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
element: S
grade: Climax FeMo 60/70
basis: maximum as printed
method: Specifications table of the Climax product datasheet, Sulfur (S) row printed as 0.15 max
status: ground
source: climax-femo
where: Specifications table, Sulfur (S) row
- benchmark: alloy_content
label: Phosphorus limit, ferromolybdenum (FeMo 60/70)
value: 0.05
bound: upper
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
element: P
grade: Climax FeMo 60/70
basis: maximum as printed
method: Specifications table of the Climax product datasheet, Phosphorus (P) row printed as 0.05 max
status: ground
source: climax-femo
where: Specifications table, Phosphorus (P) row
- benchmark: alloy_content
label: Silicon limit, ferromolybdenum (FeMo 60/70)
value: 1
bound: upper
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
element: Si (soluble)
grade: Climax FeMo 60/70
basis: maximum as printed
method: Specifications table of the Climax product datasheet, Silicon (Si) (Soluble) row printed as 1.00 max
status: ground
source: climax-femo
where: Specifications table, Silicon (Si) (Soluble) row
- benchmark: alloy_content
label: Copper limit, ferromolybdenum (FeMo 60/70)
value: 0.5
bound: upper
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
element: Cu
grade: Climax FeMo 60/70
basis: maximum as printed
method: Specifications table of the Climax product datasheet, Copper (Cu) row printed as 0.50 max
status: ground
source: climax-femo
where: Specifications table, Copper (Cu) row
- benchmark: alloy_content
label: Manganese content, ferromanganese
value: 74
value_high: 95
bound: range
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
element: Mn
grade: ferromanganese, typical range
basis: manganese content range as printed
method: Footnote 1 of the USGS Salient Statistics table, printed as manganese content typically ranging from 74 to 95 percent for ferromanganese
status: ground
source: usgs-mn-2026
where: Salient Statistics table, footnote 1
- benchmark: alloy_content
label: Carbon content, high-carbon ferromanganese
value: 6
bound: upper
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
element: C
grade: high-carbon ferromanganese
basis: upper limit as printed
method: Production section of the Wikipedia article, printed as high-carbon ferromanganese can have a carbon content of up to 6 percent
status: ground
source: wiki-femn
where: Production section, high-carbon paragraph
- benchmark: alloy_content
label: Vanadium content, ferrovanadium
value: 35
value_high: 85
bound: range
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
element: V
grade: ferrovanadium, all grades
basis: range as printed; FeV80 is the most common grade
method: Composition section of the Wikipedia article, printed as vanadium content in ferrovanadium ranges from 35 percent to 85 percent
status: ground
source: wiki-fev
where: Composition section, first paragraph
- benchmark: alloy_content
label: Vanadium content, US ferrovanadium price grade
value: 78
value_high: 82
bound: range
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
element: V
grade: US ferrovanadium quoted by USGS for its 2025 price
basis: range as printed
method: Events, Trends and Issues section of the USGS vanadium chapter, printed as the estimated United States ferrovanadium price (78 percent to 82 percent vanadium content)
status: ground
source: usgs-v-2026
where: Events, Trends and Issues, paragraph on ferrovanadium price
- benchmark: alloy_content
label: Titanium content, ferrotitanium
value: 45
value_high: 75
bound: range
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
element: Ti
grade: ferrotitanium, all grades
basis: range as printed
method: Lead section of the Wikipedia article, printed as 45 to 75 percent titanium
status: ground
source: wiki-fetti
where: Lead section, first paragraph
- benchmark: alloy_content
label: Iron content, ferrotitanium
value: 10
value_high: 20
bound: range
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
element: Fe
grade: ferrotitanium, all grades
basis: range as printed
method: Lead section of the Wikipedia article, printed as between 10 and 20 percent iron
status: ground
source: wiki-fetti
where: Lead section, first paragraph
corrosion:
- environment: Steel made with ferrovanadium
headline: Wikipedia says ferrovanadium improves corrosion resistance in steel, but gives no rate.
effect: The Wikipedia article calls ferrovanadium a universal hardener, strengthener and anti-corrosive additive for steels, and says it improves corrosion resistance to alkaline reagents as well as sulfuric and hydrochloric acids. No corrosion rate or test is given for any ferrovanadium grade, and the statement describes the steel, not the alloy powder.
rating: unknown
conditions:
basis: qualitative statement for steel containing the alloy; no test conditions given
source: wiki-fev
where: Lead section, uses paragraph; Corrosion paragraph
- environment: Stored lump or powder in a warehouse
headline: The ferromanganese SDS asks for sealed containers in a cool, dry store, but gives no corrosion rate.
effect: The supplier SDS for ferromanganese says to keep the container tightly sealed and store it in a cool, dry place in tightly closed containers. It gives no corrosion rate, moisture-uptake figure or reaction test.
rating: unknown
conditions:
basis: storage advice only; no exposure duration or humidity stated
source: femn-sds
where: Section 7, Handling and storage
risks:
hazards:
- text: 'Stanford Advanced Materials SDS for ferromanganese (CAS 12604-53-4): signal word Warning, H319 causes serious eye irritation and H335 may cause respiratory irritation. Hazards not otherwise classified: no information known.'
ghs:
- H319
- H335
source: femn-sds
where: Section 2, Hazards identification
- text: Wikipedia gives GHS hazard statements H320, H335 and H373 for ferrovanadium, with signal word Warning. The dust is a mild eye irritant and caused chronic bronchitis and pneumonitis in animals at high concentration.
ghs:
- H320
- H335
- H373
source: wiki-fev
where: Infobox, Toxicology and Occupational exposure sections
- text: NIOSH gives ferrovanadium dust a recommended exposure limit of 1 mg/m3 as a time-weighted average and 3 mg/m3 short-term, an IDLH of 500 mg/m3, and an OSHA PEL of 1 mg/m3 as a TWA. The metal is listed as noncombustible, but its dust may be an explosion hazard.
ghs: []
source: niosh-fev
where: Exposure limits, IDLH and Physical description rows
failure_risks:
- mode: Dust explosion in a powder store or grinding area
trigger: Airborne dust at or above the minimum explosive concentration
consequence: NIOSH gives a minimum explosive concentration of 1.3 g/m3 for ferrovanadium dust and says the dust may be an explosion hazard, although the metal is noncombustible.
severity: moderate
source: niosh-fev
where: Minimum explosive concentration row; Physical description note
- mode: Respiratory and eye irritation from powder handling
trigger: Dust or fume above the 1 mg/m3 TWA, without a dust control
consequence: Eye and respiratory irritation, with chronic bronchitis and pneumonitis in animals at high concentration (Wikipedia; NIOSH target organs and symptoms).
severity: moderate
source: niosh-fev
where: Symptoms and Target organs rows
- mode: Fire fought with water
trigger: A fire involving ferromanganese powder or lump
consequence: The SDS lists water as an unsuitable extinguishing agent, names special powder for metal fires, and says metal oxide fume is released in a fire.
severity: moderate
source: femn-sds
where: Section 5, Firefighting measures
side_effects: []
handling:
- text: Keep the container tightly sealed and store it in a cool, dry place in tightly closed containers, with good ventilation at the workplace (ferromanganese SDS, section 7).
source: femn-sds
where: Section 7, Handling and storage
- text: 'NIOSH respirator guidance for ferrovanadium dust: up to 10 mg/m3, any particulate respirator with an N95, R95 or P95 filter; up to 500 mg/m3, a supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece run in a positive-pressure mode.'
source: niosh-fev
where: Respirator recommendations
- text: Use special powder for metal fires and do not use water on a ferromanganese fire (SDS, section 5).
source: femn-sds
where: Section 5, Suitable and unsuitable extinguishing agents
mitigations:
- text: Avoid breathing dust, fume, gas, mist, vapours or spray (ferromanganese SDS precaution P261), and wear protective gloves and eye protection (P280).
source: femn-sds
where: Section 2, Precautionary statements
- text: Keep the material away from strong oxidizers, which NIOSH lists as incompatible with ferrovanadium.
source: niosh-fev
where: Incompatibilities and reactivities row
uses:
- application: structures
device: High-strength low-alloy structural steel
example: The Wikipedia article says ferromolybdenum is the main source of molybdenum alloying for HSLA steel, and it is added to the melt before casting.
source: wiki-femo
where: Lead section, first paragraph; Production section
- application: structures
device: Cast iron, steel and superalloys
example: USGS says molybdenum is used principally as an alloying agent in cast iron, steel and superalloys, and its 2025 US production rose by 18 percent to 40,000 tons of molybdenum content.
source: usgs-mo-2026
where: Domestic Production and Use paragraph
- application: structures
device: Alloy steels as a hardener and strengthener
example: The Wikipedia article calls ferrovanadium a universal hardener and strengthener for steels, and USGS says metallurgical use, mainly as an alloying agent for iron and steel, was more than 90 percent of 2025 reported US vanadium consumption.
source: wiki-fev
where: Lead section, uses paragraph; USGS vanadium Domestic Production and Use paragraph
- application: structures
device: Steel melts treated as a deoxidizer and desulfurizer
example: The Wikipedia article says ferrotitanium is used as a cleansing agent for iron and steel, as a deoxidizer, and sometimes for desulfurization and denitrogenation, and that titanium gives a finer grain structure.
source: wiki-fetti
where: Lead section, uses paragraph
- application: structures
device: Carbon, low-alloy and stainless steels
example: The Wikipedia article says the main use of ferromanganese is as a processed manganese source for adding manganese to steels, including stainless steel, and that low-carbon grades are preferred because they control carbon accurately.
source: wiki-femn
where: Lead section; Production section
supply:
- subject: Molybdenum (world mine production, 2025e)
abundance: World mine production in 2025e was 260,000 metric tons of molybdenum content (USGS, rounded total). China 97,000; Chile 42,000; United States 40,000; Peru 39,000.
producers:
- country: China
year: 2025
- country: Chile
year: 2025
- country: United States
year: 2025
- country: Peru
year: 2025
critical_lists:
- list: USGS 2025 List of Critical Minerals
listed: false
recycling: 'USGS: molybdenum is recycled as a component of catalysts, ferrous scrap and superalloy scrap, and the amount recycled may be as much as 30 percent of apparent supply.'
substitutes:
- 'USGS: there is little substitution for molybdenum in steels and cast irons; boron, chromium, niobium, vanadium and tungsten are named as potential substitutes in alloy steels.'
source: usgs-mo-2026
where: World Mine Production and Reserves table, 2025e column; Recycling; Substitutes; Critical list entry (not listed)
- subject: Ferromolybdenum imports (United States, 2021 to 2024)
abundance: Ferromolybdenum import sources were Chile 74 percent, Republic of Korea 21 percent, United Kingdom 4 percent and other 1 percent.
producers:
- country: Chile
year: 2024
- country: Republic of Korea
year: 2024
critical_lists: []
recycling: ''
substitutes: []
source: usgs-mo-2026
where: Import Sources (2021 to 2024) paragraph
- subject: Manganese (world mine production, 2025e)
abundance: Manganese ore mine production in 2025e was 20,000 thousand metric tons of manganese content (USGS, rounded total). South Africa 7,600; Gabon 5,000; Ghana 2,000; Australia 1,600; China 700. South Africa holds an estimated 70 percent of world manganese resources.
producers:
- country: South Africa
year: 2025
- country: Gabon
year: 2025
- country: Ghana
year: 2025
- country: Australia
year: 2025
- country: China
year: 2025
critical_lists:
- list: USGS 2025 List of Critical Minerals
listed: true
recycling: 'USGS: manganese is recovered along with iron from steel slag, and scrap recovery specifically for manganese was negligible.'
substitutes:
- 'USGS: manganese has no satisfactory substitute in its major applications.'
source: usgs-mn-2026
where: World Mine Production and Reserves table, 2025e column; World Resources paragraph; Substitutes; Recycling
- subject: Manganese (United States import reliance)
abundance: No manganese ore containing 20 percent or more manganese has been produced domestically since 1970. Net import reliance was 100 percent of apparent consumption in 2025e. In 2025 US ferromanganese imports were an estimated 350 thousand metric tons (from the Salient Statistics table).
producers: []
critical_lists: []
recycling: ''
substitutes: []
source: usgs-mn-2026
where: Domestic Production and Use paragraph; Salient Statistics table, Net import reliance and Ferromanganese imports rows
- subject: Ferromanganese import sources (2021 to 2024)
abundance: Ferromanganese imports came from Malaysia 26 percent, Australia 16 percent, Norway 16 percent, South Africa 14 percent and other sources 28 percent.
producers:
- country: Malaysia
year: 2024
- country: Australia
year: 2024
- country: Norway
year: 2024
- country: South Africa
year: 2024
critical_lists: []
recycling: ''
substitutes: []
source: usgs-mn-2026
where: Import Sources (2021 to 2024) paragraph
- subject: Vanadium (world mine production, 2025e)
abundance: World vanadium mine production in 2025e was 110,000 metric tons of vanadium content (USGS, rounded total). China 82,000; Russia 21,000; Brazil 5,300; South Africa 5,000. Most of China's output is a coproduct of titanomagnetite processed in steelmaking. Secondary production from ash, residues and spent catalysts was 7,500 metric tons in 2025e.
producers:
- country: China
year: 2025
- country: Russia
year: 2025
- country: Brazil
year: 2025
- country: South Africa
year: 2025
critical_lists:
- list: USGS 2025 List of Critical Minerals
listed: true
recycling: 'USGS: recycling is mainly associated with reprocessing vanadium catalysts into new catalysts.'
substitutes:
- 'USGS: steels with other alloying elements can replace vanadium steels; manganese, molybdenum, niobium, titanium and tungsten are interchangeable with vanadium to some degree.'
source: usgs-v-2026
where: World Mine Production and Reserves table, 2025e column; Recycling; Substitutes; Events, Trends and Issues
- subject: Ferrovanadium imports (United States)
abundance: US ferrovanadium imports were 2,200 metric tons in 2025e. Import sources for 2021 to 2024 were Canada 50 percent, Austria 35 percent, Russia 6 percent and Latvia 4 percent.
producers:
- country: Canada
year: 2024
- country: Austria
year: 2024
critical_lists: []
recycling: ''
substitutes: []
source: usgs-v-2026
where: Salient Statistics table, Ferrovanadium imports row; Import Sources (2021 to 2024) paragraph
- subject: Titanium (world sponge production, 2025)
abundance: World titanium sponge production was 370,000 metric tons in 2025 (USGS, rounded total). China 260,000; Japan 53,000; Russia 25,000; Kazakhstan 16,000; Saudi Arabia 12,000. The United States produced no sponge in 2025 and imported about 44,000 tons. Ferrotitanium is a separate product from the sponge figures.
producers:
- country: China
year: 2025
- country: Japan
year: 2025
- country: Russia
year: 2025
- country: Kazakhstan
year: 2025
- country: Saudi Arabia
year: 2025
critical_lists:
- list: USGS 2025 List of Critical Minerals
listed: true
recycling: 'USGS: a Virginia company began commercial titanium powder production from titanium scrap in late 2024 and aimed to reach 1,400 tons per year in 2027.'
substitutes:
- 'USGS: aluminum, nickel, specialty steels and zirconium alloys may replace titanium where corrosion resistance is required (sponge metal context, not ferrotitanium).'
source: usgs-ti-2026
where: Domestic Production and Use; World Sponge Metal Production table, 2025 column; Events, Trends and Issues; Substitutes
media: []
documents:
- title: 'Climax Molybdenum product data sheet: Ferromolybdenum 60/70 (PDS FEMO US REV24-01)'
type: datasheet
url: https://www.climaxmolybdenum.com/sites/climaxmoly/files/documents/pdfs/technical-library/metallurgical-product-datasheets/PDS_FEMO_US_65.pdf
year: 2024
- title: 'Stanford Advanced Materials safety data sheet: Ferro Manganese (CAS 12604-53-4)'
type: sds
url: https://samaterials.com/tds/1697119575-1673-ferro-manganese-femn-alloy-sds.pdf
year: 2023
- title: 'NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: Ferrovanadium dust (CAS 12604-58-9)'
type: database
url: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0287.html
year: 2019
- title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Molybdenum'
type: report
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-molybdenum.pdf
year: 2026
- title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Manganese'
type: report
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-manganese.pdf
year: 2026
- title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Vanadium'
type: report
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-vanadium.pdf
year: 2026
- title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Titanium and Titanium Dioxide'
type: report
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-titanium.pdf
year: 2026
- title: 'USGS: About the 2025 List of Critical Minerals'
type: report
url: https://www.usgs.gov/programs/mineral-resources-program/science/about-2025-list-critical-minerals
year: 2025
- title: 'Wikipedia: Ferromolybdenum'
type: database
url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferromolybdenum
- title: 'Wikipedia: Ferrovanadium'
type: database
url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrovanadium
- title: 'Wikipedia: Ferrotitanium'
type: database
url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrotitanium
- title: 'Wikipedia: Ferromanganese'
type: database
url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferromanganese
- title: 'ChemicalBook: Ferromolybdenum property page (CAS 12382-30-8)'
type: database
url: https://www.chemicalbook.com/CASEN_12382-30-8.htm
gaps:
- Ferrotitanium melting point and density were not found in any page read. The Stanford Advanced Materials FeTi40-A table prints two different Ti ranges under the same label, so it is not used for values.
- Ferrovanadium density was not recorded. The NIOSH entry prints specific gravity as a question mark, and Wikipedia gives no figure.
- Ferromolybdenum melting point and density come only from a chemical database page (ChemicalBook); no manufacturer or standards figure was found, so treat them as approximate.
- Ferromanganese density and melting range come from Wikipedia, not from a manufacturer datasheet. Its carbon grade is not stated, so the figures are for ferromanganese in general.
- No corrosion rate, moisture uptake, water reaction or salt-spray result was found for any of the four alloys. The DLA high-carbon ferromanganese SDS, which a search suggested treats contact with water as a flammable-gas hazard, could not be downloaded, so water reactivity is not stated here.
- 'Ferromolybdenum has no SDS value read in this run: Climax says its SDS is available on request. Ferrotitanium has no hazard, dust or exposure data read in this run.'
- No manganese exposure limit (NIOSH or OSHA) was read for ferromanganese dust or fume; the only limits recorded are for ferrovanadium dust.
- Ferrotitanium composition is taken from Wikipedia's 45 to 75 percent titanium range only. ASTM A324 grade limits were not read, so no grade-by-grade composition is given.
- 'Ferrovanadium composition: the 78 to 82 percent vanadium figure is the grade quoted by USGS for its US price, not a manufacturer spec. No FeV80 datasheet was read.'
- Iron supply (world iron ore and steel scrap) was not characterised for this family. The EU critical raw materials list was not checked; only the USGS 2025 list is recorded.
- The alloy_content benchmark is a custom snake_case name, not in property-canon, because the file has no canonical composition property. Exposure limits are recorded in risks, not as properties.
sources:
usgs-mn-2026:
title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Manganese'
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-manganese.pdf
kind: report
year: 2026
license: public domain
usgs-mo-2026:
title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Molybdenum'
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-molybdenum.pdf
kind: report
year: 2026
license: public domain
usgs-v-2026:
title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Vanadium'
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-vanadium.pdf
kind: report
year: 2026
license: public domain
usgs-ti-2026:
title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Titanium and Titanium Dioxide'
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-titanium.pdf
kind: report
year: 2026
license: public domain
usgs-crit-2025:
title: 'USGS: About the 2025 List of Critical Minerals'
url: https://www.usgs.gov/programs/mineral-resources-program/science/about-2025-list-critical-minerals
kind: web
year: 2025
license: public domain
climax-femo:
title: 'Climax Molybdenum product data sheet: Ferromolybdenum 60/70 (PDS FEMO US REV24-01)'
url: https://www.climaxmolybdenum.com/sites/climaxmoly/files/documents/pdfs/technical-library/metallurgical-product-datasheets/PDS_FEMO_US_65.pdf
kind: datasheet
license: cited, not reproduced
femn-sds:
title: 'Stanford Advanced Materials safety data sheet: Ferro Manganese (CAS 12604-53-4)'
url: https://samaterials.com/tds/1697119575-1673-ferro-manganese-femn-alloy-sds.pdf
kind: datasheet
year: 2023
license: cited, not reproduced
niosh-fev:
title: 'NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: Ferrovanadium dust'
url: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0287.html
kind: database
year: 2019
license: public domain (CDC)
wiki-femo:
title: 'Wikipedia: Ferromolybdenum'
url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferromolybdenum
kind: web
license: CC BY-SA 4.0 (cited, not reproduced)
wiki-fev:
title: 'Wikipedia: Ferrovanadium'
url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrovanadium
kind: web
license: CC BY-SA 4.0 (cited, not reproduced)
wiki-fetti:
title: 'Wikipedia: Ferrotitanium'
url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrotitanium
kind: web
license: CC BY-SA 4.0 (cited, not reproduced)
wiki-femn:
title: 'Wikipedia: Ferromanganese'
url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferromanganese
kind: web
license: CC BY-SA 4.0 (cited, not reproduced)
chemicalbook-femo:
title: 'ChemicalBook: Ferromolybdenum property page (CAS 12382-30-8)'
url: https://www.chemicalbook.com/CASEN_12382-30-8.htm
kind: database
license: cited, not reproduced
license: CC-BY-4.0
updated: '2026-10-26'
review:
status: draft
method: assistant
checked_values: 18
unreachable: 1
caveats: 11
note: Written by an AI assistant on 2026-10-26 from pages and PDFs read in that run. Melting points and densities come from Wikipedia and one chemical database page, not a manufacturer; molybdenum and vanadium composition limits come from a Climax datasheet and USGS text; hazards come from NIOSH, Wikipedia and a supplier SDS. The ferroalloys USGS chapter URL returned a not-found page, so USGS ferroalloy data are taken from the element chapters.
story:
recipe:
line: Each ferroalloy is iron carrying one added element at a large dose. Ferromolybdenum is 60 to 70 percent molybdenum, ferromanganese is 74 to 95 percent manganese, ferrovanadium is 35 to 85 percent vanadium (FeV80 is the most common) and ferrotitanium is 45 to 75 percent titanium. Ferromolybdenum is made by heating molybdenum oxide with aluminium and iron, ferrovanadium by aluminothermic reduction of V2O5 in an electric arc furnace, ferromanganese by reduction in a submerged arc furnace, and ferrotitanium by melting titanium sponge and scrap with iron in an induction furnace (Wikipedia).
parts:
- name: Iron
symbol: Fe
share_note: balance (the rest) in every grade
role: The carrier metal. It dissolves the alloying element into the steel melt.
source: climax-femo
where: Specifications table, Balance row
- name: Molybdenum
symbol: Mo
share_percent: 60
share_high: 70
role: The alloying element for high-strength low-alloy steel (ferromolybdenum).
source: climax-femo
where: Specifications table, Molybdenum row
- name: Manganese
symbol: Mn
share_percent: 74
share_high: 95
role: The alloying element added to carbon, low-alloy and stainless steels (ferromanganese).
source: usgs-mn-2026
where: Salient Statistics table, footnote 1
- name: Vanadium
symbol: V
share_percent: 35
share_high: 85
role: Hardens and strengthens steel (ferrovanadium).
source: wiki-fev
where: Composition section, first paragraph
- name: Titanium
symbol: Ti
share_percent: 45
share_high: 75
role: Cleanses and deoxidizes the melt, and refines grain (ferrotitanium).
source: wiki-fetti
where: Lead section, first paragraph
- name: Carbon
symbol: C
share_note: 0.10 max in ferromolybdenum; up to 6 in high-carbon ferromanganese
role: An impurity in most ferroalloys. The limit is set per grade.
source: climax-femo
where: Specifications table, Carbon row
- name: Silicon
symbol: Si
share_note: 1.00 max (soluble) in ferromolybdenum
role: An impurity in most ferroalloys. Held to a maximum in each grade.
source: climax-femo
where: Specifications table, Silicon row
why: 'Ferroalloys are iron master alloys that carry one element into a steel melt. Each one in this profile carries a different element: molybdenum for alloying HSLA steel, manganese for steels including stainless, vanadium as a hardener and strengthener, and titanium as a cleansing agent and deoxidizer. The four alloys differ in composition and melting point, so every figure here is kept with the grade it belongs to.'
uses:
- where: Structural and high-strength low-alloy steel
line: Ferromolybdenum is the main source of molybdenum for alloying high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steel, and it is added to the melt before casting (Wikipedia). USGS says molybdenum is used principally as an alloying agent in cast iron, steel and superalloys.
- where: Hardened and strengthened alloy steels
line: Ferrovanadium is a universal hardener and strengthener for steels, and USGS says more than 90 percent of 2025 US reported vanadium consumption was metallurgical, mainly as an alloying agent for iron and steel.
- where: Deoxidizing and cleansing steel
line: Ferrotitanium is used as a cleansing agent and deoxidizer for iron and steel, and sometimes for desulfurization and denitrogenation (Wikipedia).
- where: Carbon, low-alloy and stainless steels
line: Ferromanganese is the processed manganese source for adding manganese to steels, including stainless steel. USGS says the metal has no satisfactory substitute in its major applications.
can_do:
- label: Molybdenum dose
benchmark: alloy_content
line: Ferromolybdenum (FeMo 60/70) is 60 to 70 percent molybdenum by weight, with carbon at most 0.10 percent and phosphorus at most 0.05 percent (Climax datasheet).
- label: Manganese dose
benchmark: alloy_content
line: Ferromanganese is typically 74 to 95 percent manganese (USGS). The high-carbon grade can carry up to 6 percent carbon, while the low-carbon grade has less than 2 percent (Wikipedia).
- label: Vanadium dose
benchmark: alloy_content
line: Ferrovanadium ranges from 35 to 85 percent vanadium, and FeV80 is the most common grade (Wikipedia). USGS prices the US ferrovanadium at 78 to 82 percent vanadium.
- label: Titanium dose
benchmark: alloy_content
line: Ferrotitanium ranges from 45 to 75 percent titanium, with 10 to 20 percent iron (Wikipedia).
- label: Melting point
benchmark: melting_point
line: Ferromanganese melts at 1200 to 1300 °C (Wikipedia). Ferrovanadium melts at about 1480 °C, which NIOSH gives as 2696 to 2768 °F. A chemical database gives ferromolybdenum 1800 to 1900 °C.
compare: 'The four alloys melt at different temperatures and carry different doses. Ferromanganese, at 1200 to 1300 °C, melts lowest. Ferrovanadium, at about 1480 °C, sits in the middle. Ferromolybdenum is given as 1800 to 1900 °C by a chemical database, which is above the other two. Ferrotitanium has no melting figure in the sources read. Dose ranges also differ: manganese 74 to 95 percent, molybdenum 60 to 70 percent, vanadium 35 to 85 percent and titanium 45 to 75 percent.'
compare_rows:
- label: Melting point
benchmark: melting_point
- label: Density
benchmark: density
- label: Element content in the alloy
benchmark: alloy_content
handling:
- Keep the containers tightly sealed in a cool, dry place with good ventilation (ferromanganese SDS, section 7).
- Dust may be an explosion hazard; NIOSH gives a minimum explosive concentration of 1.3 g/m3 for ferrovanadium dust.
- Use an N95, R95 or P95 particulate respirator up to 10 mg/m3 of ferrovanadium dust, and a supplied-air respirator above that (NIOSH).
- Do not use water on a ferromanganese fire; use special powder for metal fires (SDS, section 5).
good_for:
- Adding a precise dose of molybdenum, manganese, vanadium or titanium to a steel melt.
- Deoxidizing and cleansing steel with ferrotitanium.
watch_out:
- Dust from the powders can irritate the eyes and lungs, and ferrovanadium dust caused bronchitis and pneumonitis in animals at high concentration (Wikipedia; NIOSH).
- Grade-to-grade composition varies a lot. Quote the grade with every number, since the dose ranges overlap between sources.
- No corrosion or moisture-reaction data were found for the alloys themselves, so storage advice rests on the supplier SDS alone.
verdict: Ferroalloys are the usual way to put molybdenum, manganese, vanadium or titanium into steel. Dose depends on grade, and the powders need dust control and dry storage. The file has no corrosion data and no melting point for ferrotitanium.
risk_groups:
- title: For people
level: 1
verdict: Dust is the main hazard
lead: The SDS and NIOSH entries point to dust and fume, not to acute toxicity of the lump.
points:
- label: Ferromanganese
line: The supplier SDS classes it as Warning, with H319 for serious eye irritation and H335 for respiratory irritation.
- label: Ferrovanadium
line: Wikipedia lists H320, H335 and H373; NIOSH gives a 1 mg/m3 TWA and a 500 mg/m3 IDLH for the dust.
- label: Dust
line: Avoid breathing dust, fume, gas, mist or spray (SDS precaution P261).
- title: In a fire or in storage
level: 2
verdict: Water is the wrong agent
lead: The SDS says water is an unsuitable extinguishing agent and that metal oxide fume is released.
points:
- label: Fire
line: Use special powder for metal fires; do not use water on a ferromanganese fire.
- label: Storage
line: Keep the container tightly sealed in a cool, dry place.
- title: Dust explosion
level: 1
verdict: Dust may explode
lead: The metal is noncombustible, but its dust may be an explosion hazard, according to NIOSH.
points:
- label: Minimum concentration
line: NIOSH gives a minimum explosive concentration of 1.3 g/m3 for ferrovanadium dust.
References
Every number above carries a reference number. Click one to see the source and where in it the value comes from.
| # | Source | Type | Year | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Manganese | report | 2026 | 5 values | |
| USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Molybdenum | report | 2026 | 3 values | |
| USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Vanadium | report | 2026 | 3 values | |
| USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Titanium and Titanium Dioxide | report | 2026 | 1 value | |
| USGS: About the 2025 List of Critical Minerals | web | 2025 | 0 values | |
| Climax Molybdenum product data sheet: Ferromolybdenum 60/70 (PDS FEMO US REV24-01) | datasheet | 6 values | ||
| Stanford Advanced Materials safety data sheet: Ferro Manganese (CAS 12604-53-4) | datasheet | 2023 | 6 values | |
| NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: Ferrovanadium dust | database | 2019 | 6 values | |
| Wikipedia: Ferromolybdenum | web | 1 value | ||
| Wikipedia: Ferrovanadium | web | 5 values | ||
| Wikipedia: Ferrotitanium | web | 3 values | ||
| Wikipedia: Ferromanganese | web | 4 values | ||
| ChemicalBook: Ferromolybdenum property page (CAS 12382-30-8) | database | 2 values |