How is medium-carbon ferromanganese produced?

Medium-carbon ferromanganese is produced through two primary methods in manganese processing:

• Silicothermic Reduction: Manganese ore, lime flux, and coal are fused in a furnace to create a melt rich in manganese oxide (MnO). This melt is then contacted with silicomanganese. The silicon within the alloy reduces the MnO to manganese metal while being oxidized into the slag. The final carbon content depends on the reducing agent used, typically resulting in about 1 percent carbon when using standard silicomanganese.1
• Oxygen Refining: Molten high-carbon ferromanganese can be refined by blowing it with oxygen. This process oxidizes the carbon content until it is reduced to less than 1.5 percent.1

These processes are distinct from the production of high-carbon ferromanganese, which is typically created by smelting ores in an electric furnace using carbon as a reducing agent.23