Refractory Metal FeCr-LC
ASTM A99 · ISO 5448
FeCr-LC is low-carbon ferrochromium to GB/T 5683 (A99, e.g.
Reference datasheet — FeCr-LC 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 C0.50 condition
FeCr-LC tempers and conditions
FeCr-LC is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. C0.50 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 6 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C0.50Default low-carbon ferrochromium FeCr55C0.5 (GB/T 5683) | Default stocked low-carbon ferrochrome: lowest-cost LC grade for stainless, bearing and alloy-steel heats with a moderate carbon budget. | 200 | 0.1 | 48 HRC | — | |
low-carbon ferrochromium | Widely traded low-carbon grade for alloy structural steels and stainless where 0.25 % C tolerance is acceptable. | 215 | 0.2 | 45 HRC | 1.6 % IACS | |
low-carbon ferrochromium | Economical low-carbon grade for general low-carbon alloy-steel and stainless charges. | 230 | 0.2 | 43 HRC | 1.7 % IACS | |
low-carbon ferrochromium | Common trade grade balancing cost against a tight carbon ceiling for stainless and tool-steel melting. | 245 | 0.3 | 40 HRC | 1.7 % IACS | |
micro-carbon ferrochromium | Standard micro-carbon grade for low-carbon stainless and electrical/precision steel heats. | 265 | 0.4 | 35 HRC | 1.8 % IACS | |
micro-carbon ferrochromium | Pick when melting ultra-low-carbon stainless (304L/316L, ferritics) or superalloys where any carbon pickup is unacceptable. | 280 | 0.5 | 33 HRC | 1.9 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways FeCr-LC 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-0-10 | Fines / granules 0–10 mm | Surface finish |
LUMP-10-50 | Sized lump 10–50 mm | Surface finish |
LUMP-50-100 | Sized lump 50–100 mm | Surface finish |
What is FeCr-LC?
FeCr-LC is low-carbon ferrochromium to GB/T 5683 (A99, e.g. FeCr55C0.5), graded by carbon content in steps from C0.03 through C0.50. It is used where carbon pickup must be minimised, notably for low-carbon stainless and specialty steels, and is supplied as crushed lump at 10–50 mm or 50–100 mm with 0–10 mm fines briquetted for ladle trimming. Melting point is about 1620 °C, higher than high-carbon ferrochromium. It is a brittle ferroalloy rather than a wrought product, so no machining, welding or forming applies; FeCr-HC is the cheaper choice when carbon is unrestricted. FeCr-LC has a density of 7.2 g/cm³ (0.26 lb/in³), lighter than 57% of refractory metal grades. It melts at 1,620°C (2,948 °F). FeCr-LC has a tensile strength of 200 MPa (29 ksi), weaker than 97% of refractory metal grades. Elongation at break is 0.1% and the elastic modulus is 220 GPa (31.9 Msi).
What is FeCr-LC used for?
- low-carbon stainless steel production
- precision alloy steel making
- vacuum induction melting charge
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 5.5 kg CO₂/kg, better than 99% of refractory metal grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 3/100, worse than 99% of refractory metal grades
- Difficult to weld — 5/100, worse than 99% of refractory metal grades
- Low fracture toughness — 9 MPa·√m (8.19 ksi·√in), worse than 98% of refractory metal grades
- Limited formability — 1/100, worse than 98% of refractory metal grades
- Limited ductility — 0.1%, worse than 97% of refractory metal grades
FeCr-LC properties
Typical room-temperature values for FeCr-LC-C0.50; bars are the position among refractory metal grades.
Physical3
FeCr-LC has a density of 7.2 g/cm³ (0.26 lb/in³), lighter than 57% of refractory metal grades. It melts at 1,620°C (2,948 °F).
Mechanical10
FeCr-LC has a tensile strength of 200 MPa (29 ksi), weaker than 97% of refractory metal grades. Elongation at break is 0.1% and the elastic modulus is 220 GPa (31.9 Msi).
Thermal5
FeCr-LC is rated for continuous service to 850°C (1,562 °F). It conducts heat at 16 W/m·K (9.24 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 80% of refractory metal grades. Thermal expansion is 9.5 µm/m·K (5.28 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
FeCr-LC conducts electricity at 1.6 % IACS, worse than 96% of refractory metal grades.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is fair (45/100), worse than 86% of refractory metal grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of FeCr-LC takes about 62 MJ of energy and emits 5.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 99% of refractory metal grades. Typical recycled content is 5%.
Manufacturability4
FeCr-LC's machinability is not recommended (3/100, worse than 99% of refractory metal grades); weldability not recommended (5/100); formability not recommended (1/100).
Common Calculations4
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-LC is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with FeCr-LC
Is FeCr-LC easy to machine?
Not machinable — hard, brittle carbide-bearing ferroalloy supplied crushed and screened; size reduction is by jaw crusher and screening, not cutting.
Can FeCr-LC be welded?
Not a weldable product form; it is dissolved as an alloying addition in EAF/AOD/ladle melts (also used in cored wire and hardfacing electrode coatings).
Can FeCr-LC be formed, bent or molded?
No cold or hot forming; cast into chills, crushed to 10–50 mm or 50–100 mm, with fines briquetted for ladle trimming.
FeCr-LC 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 FeCr55 series; export grades often 60–65 % Cr | 52 – 65 | 57 |
| Cgrade-defining ceiling: 0.03 / 0.06 / 0.10 / 0.15 / 0.25 / 0.50 % | ≤ 0.5 | 0.35 |
| Sisub-grades A/B/C at ≤1.0 / ≤1.5 / ≤2.0 % | ≤ 2 | 1 |
| P0.03 % typical max, 0.04 % for lower sub-grades | ≤ 0.03 | 0.02 |
| S | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Nnot always specified; higher in some AOD-refined material | ≤ 0.06 | 0.03 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on FeCr-LC?
No surface finishing applies; keep lump dry and covered to avoid rusting of fines and to control moisture-related hydrogen pickup in the melt.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Refractory Metal FeCr-LC in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- A99
- ISO
- 5448
How much does FeCr-LC cost?
FeCr-LC is a budget-cost refractory metal ($), cheaper than about 90% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
FeCr-LC — frequently asked
What is FeCr-LC used for?
FeCr-LC is typically used for low-carbon stainless steel production, precision alloy steel making and vacuum induction melting charge. In short: low-carbon chromium addition; graded C0.03 to C0.50; highest-melting ferrochrome grade.
What is the tensile strength of FeCr-LC?
FeCr-LC has a typical tensile strength of 200 MPa (29 ksi) — weaker than 97% of refractory metal grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is FeCr-LC easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (3/100, worse than 99% of refractory metal grades). Not machinable — hard, brittle carbide-bearing ferroalloy supplied crushed and screened; size reduction is by jaw crusher and screening, not cutting.
Can FeCr-LC be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (5/100). Not a weldable product form; it is dissolved as an alloying addition in EAF/AOD/ladle melts (also used in cored wire and hardfacing electrode coatings).
What surface finishes work on FeCr-LC?
No surface finishing applies; keep lump dry and covered to avoid rusting of fines and to control moisture-related hydrogen pickup in the melt.
Can FeCr-LC be formed, bent or molded?
No cold or hot forming; cast into chills, crushed to 10–50 mm or 50–100 mm, with fines briquetted for ladle trimming.
What is the maximum service temperature of FeCr-LC?
FeCr-LC is rated for continuous use to about 850°C (1,562 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does FeCr-LC cost?
FeCr-LC is a budget-cost refractory metal ($), 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 conditions of delivery — ISO (1981)
- ASTM A101 Standard Specification for Ferrochromium — ASTM International (2017)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 3: Alloy Phase Diagrams (Fe-Cr, Fe-Cr-C) — ASM International (1992)
- Handbook of Ferroalloys — Theory and Technology (ferrochrome chapters) — Butterworth-Heinemann/Elsevier (2013)
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.