I've added ferrosilicon routinely to iron melts for the usual reasons. I recently got ahold of some elemental (99.0+ pure) silicon metal, and wondered if that could be used in an iron melt to similar effect.
Melting point is 1414 C , which seems do-able (unlike in a normal aluminum melt). I do realize that the S.G. is much lower than iron, so it will tend to float, and oxidize, and that the silicon effect is transitory, so needs to happen at the very end of the melt.
Other than that, is there a reason why it isn't generally talked about? I mean I just did a search online and after 3 pages of pointless results repeating that (ferro)silicon is used in iron melting, there was nothing to say yay or nay about pure silicon metal addition.
Anybody know -- or even better, have actual experience?
