Ferrous metals: deposits, storage. Metallurgy of ferrous metals

Metals are materials that never lose their relevance. They are widely used in everyday life and in industry. Of course, today we have come up with a lot of different alternative substances, on the basis of which materials are obtained that are not inferior in quality to metals. However, it is impossible to completely replace them. It is difficult to imagine fences and gates, grilles, manhole covers, tools and much more from something else.

Although plastic, glass, silicone, polyethylene and polypropylene are firmly rooted in modern human life, it is difficult to replace the fundamental parts of structures, numerous parts of cars and other vehicles with any alternative to metals. She is simply not there.

Metals in the Periodic System

In the Periodic system of chemical elements, metals occupy a leading position. Of the currently known 117 positions, more than 90 are metals. All of these elements have a number of characteristic features that allow them to be assigned to the group of metals:

1. Able to conduct electric current.
2. They have thermal conductivity.
3. Ductile, ductile, can be rolled into sheets and wire (not all).
4. They have a silver sheen (except copper and gold).

In addition to the general properties, each similar element also has a number of specific features, which makes it so popular.

Typology

All metals as simple substances can also be divided into three classes:

1. Black.
2. Colored.
3. Precious.

Non -ferrous metals include everything except precious and iron. That is, it is copper, mercury, palladium, chromium, nickel, zinc, magnesium, calcium, aluminum, lead, tin and so on.

Precious metals include the following:

• silver;
• gold;
• platinum.

Ferrous metals - which ones relate to them?

This class includes:

• iron and all its alloys;
• manganese;
• chromium;
• vanadium;
• titanium;
• actinides and uranium (thorium, plutonium, neptunium and others);
• tungsten;
• alkali metals.

That is, of the entire variety of these substances, the share of ferrous metals accounts for a smaller part. And basically not the most common (with the exception of iron) are in the earth's crust and bowels.

But despite the fact that ferrous metals are represented by such a small number of elements, they are very common and voluminous in production and processing. The mass of products, parts, accessories is made of iron and its alloys.

Metallurgy of ferrous metals is quite extensive and in demand around the world. Mining and processing of iron is one of the advanced technical and economic tasks of many countries of the world, including Russia.

Deposits of ferrous metals on the planet

Iron in terms of mining ranked first among all metals. Its mass content in nature, including in the earth's crust, is estimated in billions. At the same time, according to experts, people today have scouted only one hundred billion tons.

If we talk about world deposits of ferrous metals, primarily iron, it should be noted that they are on all continents, in all parts of the world, except for the points of the far North. Moreover, the distribution by country is approximately the following (in descending order):

• Russia (about forty percent of all world reserves);
• Brazil;
• Australia;
• Canada;
• USA;
• China;
• India;
• Sweden.

Deposits in Russia

In Russia, ferrous metals are found in almost all large-scale federal districts.

1. Central Federal District (Kursk Magnetic Anomaly) - over 59%.
2. Ural Federal District - 14%.
3. Siberian district - 13%.
4. Far Eastern - 8%.
5. Northwestern Federal District - 4%.
6. Volga - 0.5%.

In each of the listed districts there is an enterprise where metallurgy of ferrous metals takes place. Russia occupies a clear leading position in the world in terms of this indicator, and judging by its reserves, this will continue for a very long time.

Material extraction

The production of ferrous metal involves several complex stage processes. Firstly, ferrous metals are not found in a native form, but are part of the corresponding ores (manganese, iron, and so on). Therefore, before receiving metal, it is necessary to extract rock from the earth - ore.

This process is carried out by the mining industry. At the same time, ores containing iron can be rich and saturated or scarce for metal. Therefore, after extraction of the ore layer, its piece is taken for chemical analysis. If the quantitative metal content is over 57-60%, then work continues. If lower, then they cease or move to another territory to search for richer ore. Otherwise, this process is simply economically unprofitable.

The next stage, which includes the production of ferrous metal, is the processing of extracted ore at a special plant. This process is called metallurgy. It can be of several types:

1. Hydrometallurgy - the use of water is the basis of the ore extraction and processing technique. At the same time, in the process of leaching, metals from the composition of the ore go into solution, and from there they are extracted in pure form by electrolysis. Energetically and financially, this method is more expensive, therefore, it is used only for special metals.
2. Pyrometallurgy is the basis of the fire technique. The processes of heat treatment of ore in blast furnaces using coked coal. The most common way to process ore and extract metals. Used in ferrous metallurgy.
3. Biometallurgy . Based on the action of living organisms, it is just beginning to be put into practice, it is being developed by biotechnologists. The bottom line is the ability of some microorganisms to extract metals from the ores in the process of life.

Treatment

At the processing plant, mined ores containing ferrous metals are carefully processed. All these processes are reflected in the table below.

This is how iron and its alloys are obtained. Moreover, the maximum material cost goes to the preparation and use of coke (coal). It is he who is a reducing agent for iron, fuel, a heat source, a carbon supplier. Therefore, in the described process, a rather large amount is used, hence the high cash costs.

Storage conditions

Ferrous metals, first of all, include iron and its alloys. It should be understood that this is a very corrosion resistant material. Therefore, the storage of ferrous metal requires compliance with certain rules, especially if it is not about structures and products, but about the so-called scrap of ferrous metals (waste, broken products, sheets, rods, fittings and so on):

1. The room in which the material is located must be completely closed from moisture (rain, snow). The less moisture, the longer the shelf life.
2. The territory of the warehouse should be large, it is impossible to store sheet structures of ferrous metals close to each other, as this will provoke early corrosion.
3. All available material should be sorted by make and size.

If these simple rules are observed, it will be possible to restrain the destruction of the structure of metals for as long as possible.

Ferrous metal alloys

These include iron alloys, which are divided into several types:

1. Steel . Ferrous metal fused with carbon gives this result.
2. Cast iron . The initial cast iron, which is obtained in blast furnaces during ore processing, is completely unsuitable as a material for the production of appliances and household items. He is too fragile. It must be further processed in the form of saturation with iron and carbon, so that an excellent durable material is obtained. Other elements are also added to increase corrosion resistance and improve technical characteristics.
3. Ferroalloys (silicocalcium, ferrochrome, ferrosilicon, silicomanganese). The main purpose of these alloys is to improve the technical characteristics of the final material.

Steel

The main place among all alloys of ferrous metals is steel. Today we have learned to achieve very significant results in the production of this material with predetermined important properties. This kind of alloy is the most important for industry that ferrous metals have produced. What steel is emitted?

1. Low carbon - used for the production of various tools.
2. Corrosion-proof (pipes are made of them, refractory parts, cutting tools, welded equipment, and so on).
3. Ferrite Chrome.
4. Martensitic chrome.
5. Alloyed.
6. Nickel
7. Chrome.
8. Chrome Vanadium.
9. Tungsten.
10. Molybdenum.
11. Manganese

By the names, it is obvious that these components are added to the mixture of iron and carbon in a certain ratio. This affects a significant change in the properties of the resulting materials.

Secondary metals

Unfortunately, however much we would like, things cannot last forever. Over time, everything becomes worthless - it breaks, beats, ages and goes out of fashion. This also happens with structures made of ferrous metals. Steel, cast iron and other products, spare parts simply cease to be needed.

Then they are handed over to special enterprises engaged in the processing of raw materials that have fallen into disrepair. Now these are black ferrous metals. That is the name of broken metal products made of ferrous metals that are out of order and unnecessary in everyday life.

Those enterprises that collect scrap must comply with certain rules for its storage, export and sale. The legislation of our country on this issue established GOST. Ferrous metals, as well as non-ferrous, are under the strict control of the law.

Secondary metals can be recycled and put back into production. It is for sale for such purposes that intermediary entrepreneurs buy up scrap metal .

Today, ferrous metals are treated with due respect, they occupy a leading position in the market for relevant products.

Use in mechanical engineering

Steel and cast iron objects, parts, various devices are most widely used in mechanical engineering. They are in demand not only in the automobile, but also in the chemical and aviation industries, as well as in shipbuilding. All this is due to the special strength of these materials, their heat resistance and corrosion resistance. Ferrous metals are becoming the base material for the production of many types of products. Among the most common are the following:

• gearbox side covers;
• bearings;
• valves
• fitting;
• bushings;
• pipes;
• cylinders of cars and other vehicles;
• gear wheels;
• chain links on tractors;
• brake drums;
• carriages;
• shrouds and so on.

This list can be continued endlessly, because there are really many products from ferrous metals and their alloys.

Application in other industries

There are several main areas in which ferrous metals are used:

1. Chemical industry.
2. Engineering.
3. Production of furniture for special purposes.
4. Release dishes.
5. Production of structural parts.

This, of course, is by no means a complete list, but only the most common areas, which account for the vast majority of ferrous metallurgy products.