Ferrovanadium is an alloy of iron with 60% – 80% vanadium. FeV has a deoxidizing effect on steel. In addition, vanadium improves the alloy structure of steels, particularly by increasing hardness, toughness and resistance to impact and impact.
FeV is obtained either by aluminothermic reduction of a mixture of vanadium oxide and scrap iron or by reduction of a vanadium-iron mixture with coal. It is used as an alloy additive for steels in proportions of <0.2% for structural steels, up to 0.5% for tool steels and up to 5% for high-speed steels.
Ferro-Alloy Resources Limited (LON:FAR) is developing the giant Balasausqandiq vanadium deposit in Kyzylordinskaya oblast of southern Kazakhstan. The ore at this deposit is unlike that of nearly all other primary vanadium deposits and is capable of being treated by a much lower cost process.