Refractory Metal FeCr-HC
ASTM A99 · ISO 5448
FeCr-HC is high-carbon ferrochromium (Fe-Cr-C) produced by carbothermic smelting of chromite ore, covered by GB/T 5683 in grades such as FeCr68C8.0 (A99).
Reference datasheet — FeCr-HC is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the HC-60-70 condition
FeCr-HC tempers and conditions
FeCr-HC is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard. HC-60-70 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Charge chrome | Lower-Cr, higher-Si smelter grade used in bulk stainless melting where cost per chromium unit dominates. | 60 HRC | — | |||
HC-60-70Default HC FeCr | Standard high-carbon ferrochrome lump for stainless and alloy steel melting where high chromium units per tonne are wanted. | 63 HRC | — | |||
Cr ≥ 52 %, C ≤ 10 % | Highest-carbon GB/T grade; cheapest chromium units, used where the shop has ample decarburisation capacity. | 64 HRC | — | |||
Cr ≥ 62 %, C ≤ 6.0 %, Si ≤ 3.0 % | Chemistry-controlled GB/T high-carbon grade for stainless heats needing a lower carbon input at high Cr. | 830 HV | — | |||
Low-silicon HC FeCr | Choose when the heat has a tight silicon ceiling (e.g. ferritic stainless, some tool steels). | — |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways FeCr-HC is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
FINES | Fines / chips 0–10 mm | Surface finish |
SIZED-10-50 | Sized lump 10–50 mm | Surface finish |
What is FeCr-HC?
FeCr-HC is high-carbon ferrochromium (Fe-Cr-C) produced by carbothermic smelting of chromite ore, covered by GB/T 5683 in grades such as FeCr68C8.0 (A99). It is the primary raw material for adding chromium to stainless steels, alloy steels and alloyed cast irons, and is supplied as cast pigs, crushed lump, granules, fines and briquettes with a melting point near 1450 °C. The material is a brittle carbide aggregate at about 63 HRC and density 7.1 g/cm³ — a melt addition, not a wrought product, so machining, welding and forming do not apply. Where carbon pickup must be limited, use FeCr-LC. FeCr-HC has a density of 7.1 g/cm³ (0.257 lb/in³), lighter than 60% of refractory metal grades. It melts at 1,450°C (2,642 °F). The elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
What is FeCr-HC used for?
- stainless steel alloying addition
- alloy steel production
- cast iron alloying
- welding electrode flux formulation
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 3 kg CO₂/kg, better than 100% of refractory metal grades
Limitations
- Needs corrosion protection — 27/100, worse than 100% of refractory metal grades
- Difficult to machine — 3/100, worse than 99% of refractory metal grades
- Poor heat conductor — 14 W/m·K (8.09 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 90% of refractory metal grades
FeCr-HC properties
Typical room-temperature values for FeCr-HC-HC-60-70; bars are the position among refractory metal grades.
Physical3
FeCr-HC has a density of 7.1 g/cm³ (0.257 lb/in³), lighter than 60% of refractory metal grades. It melts at 1,450°C (2,642 °F).
Mechanical5
The elastic modulus is 210 GPa (30.5 Msi).
Thermal6
FeCr-HC is rated for continuous service to 600°C (1,112 °F). It conducts heat at 14 W/m·K (8.09 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 90% of refractory metal grades. Thermal expansion is 10 µm/m·K (5.56 µin/in·°F).
Electrical2
FeCr-HC has an electrical resistivity of 1.1×10⁻⁶ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is poor (27/100), worse than 100% of refractory metal grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of FeCr-HC takes about 45 MJ of energy and emits 3 kg of CO₂ — less than 100% of refractory metal grades. Typical recycled content is 5%.
Manufacturability1
FeCr-HC's machinability is not recommended (3/100, worse than 99% of refractory metal grades).
Common Calculations2
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the refractory metal family
Yield strength against density for every refractory metal grade FabDigit runs. FeCr-HC is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with FeCr-HC
Is FeCr-HC easy to machine?
Not machinable — the alloy is a brittle carbide aggregate that is jaw-crushed and screened to size, with tungsten-carbide or manganese-steel crushing liners.
Can FeCr-HC be welded?
Not weldable; it is a melt addition, charged with the scrap or added to the ladle/AOD converter and dissolved.
Can FeCr-HC be formed, bent or molded?
No wrought forming; product forms are cast pigs, crushed lump, granules, fines and briquettes.
FeCr-HC chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| CrGB/T 5683 FeCr68C8.0 class; charge-chrome grades run 50–55 % | 60 – 72 | 66 |
| Cgrade-defining; ≤6.0 / ≤8.0 / ≤10 classes | 4 – 9 | 7 |
| SiSi ≤1.5 / ≤3.0 / ≤6.0 sub-classes | 0.5 – 3 | 1.5 |
| P0.03 / 0.04 / 0.06 max by class | ≤ 0.06 | 0.03 |
| S | ≤ 0.06 | 0.03 |
| Febalance, with incidental Ti, Al, Ni, V from ore | balance |
What surface finishes work on FeCr-HC?
No coating or plating; only screening, magnetic/heavy-media cleaning, big-bag or bulk packaging and dry storage to limit rusting and moisture pickup.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Refractory Metal FeCr-HC in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- A99
- ISO
- 5448
How much does FeCr-HC cost?
FeCr-HC is a budget-cost refractory metal ($), cheaper than about 90% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
FeCr-HC — frequently asked
What is FeCr-HC used for?
FeCr-HC is typically used for stainless steel alloying addition, alloy steel production, cast iron alloying and welding electrode flux formulation. In short: cheapest bulk chromium source; highest-carbon ferrochrome; crushed lump, not stock shapes.
Is FeCr-HC easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (3/100, worse than 99% of refractory metal grades). Not machinable — the alloy is a brittle carbide aggregate that is jaw-crushed and screened to size, with tungsten-carbide or manganese-steel crushing liners.
Can FeCr-HC be welded?
Not weldable; it is a melt addition, charged with the scrap or added to the ladle/AOD converter and dissolved.
What surface finishes work on FeCr-HC?
No coating or plating; only screening, magnetic/heavy-media cleaning, big-bag or bulk packaging and dry storage to limit rusting and moisture pickup.
Can FeCr-HC be formed, bent or molded?
No wrought forming; product forms are cast pigs, crushed lump, granules, fines and briquettes.
What is the maximum service temperature of FeCr-HC?
FeCr-HC is rated for continuous use to about 600°C (1,112 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does FeCr-HC cost?
FeCr-HC is a budget-cost refractory metal ($), cheaper than about 90% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- GB/T 5683 (Ferrochromium) (2008)
- ISO 5448 Ferrochromium — Specification and delivery requirements — ISO (2019)
- ASTM A101 Standard Specification for Ferrochromium — ASTM International (2017)
- ASM Handbook Vol.3 — Alloy Phase Diagrams (Fe-Cr-C) — ASM International (1992)
- ICDA / ferrochrome life-cycle inventory summaries — International Chromium Development Association (2022)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.