Magnesium alloy granules
During the last decades, ALMAMET has successfully introduced Magnesium alloy granules as an alternative desulfurizing reagent. Today they play an important part in reagents supplied by ALMAMET. Magnesium-alloy granules are produced from machined chips from the die-casting sector. The sources for these products are aerospace, automotive and commercial goods. Already during the 1980s, ALMAMET has started to use Magnesium alloys as a potential source for reagents. A safe and efficient production method had to be developed and realized. ALMAMET is currently producing Magnesium alloy granules in its plants in Türkiye, Romania and Germany.
A permanent, stringent quality and environmental control are necessary. ALMAMET’s Magnesium alloy based desulfurizing reagents can substitute pure Magnesium granules as they have metallurgical benefits compared to pure Magnesium granules. One of the most significant advantages is based on the microstructure of Magnesium alloys. When injecting Magnesium granules into the hot metal, the desulfurizing reagent will heat up to more than 1,200°C in a very short time. Pure Magnesium granules will evaporate at that temperature spontaneously. In Magnesium alloys, the prevailing alloy matrix causes a later evaporation, hence allowing a lower reaction time.
Magnesium is released from the crystal lattice at a slower rate into the hot metal, resulting in a higher desulfurizing efficiency. Several test series have shown that Magnesium alloy granules provide reliable desulfurization results. The same Sulfur target levels as with pure Magnesium granules can be achieved despite the overall lower Magnesium content in the reagent. This means a cost-efficient and environmental-friendly alternative. A considerable and increasing number of steel producers worldwide have successfully substituted pure Magnesium granules with ALMAMET’s magnesium alloy granules in their process. The use of Secondary Magnesium also leads to reduce the carbon emissions in the primary steel route significantly.
