The elements, which are required to produce steel of the quality desired, are known as alloy metals. The most commonly used alloy includes manganese, molybdenum, nickel, chromium, vanadium, tungsten and cobalt. Steels that include at least 1.6 per cent manganese or any of the other non-ferrous metals are known as Alloy steels.
Manganese: It is essential for the production of good-quality steel. An average of 14 lbs. of manganese is used for every ton of steel that is made. Steel containing a very high percentage of manganese is known as manganese steel. About 95 per cent of total manganese production is consumed by the metallurgical and 5 per cent by the chemical, electrical and glass industries.
The important producers of manganese are Russia, India, South Africa, Ghana, Brazil and USA.
Russia produced 2.7 million metric tons in 1988. The Nikopol in Ukraine and Chaitura district in Georgia supply about 90 per cent of the region's total production of manganese ore. The other areas are Urals, Kazakhstan and Siberia.
India is the second largest producer of manganese in the world. She produced 1.8 million metric tons in 1988. India has considerable deposits of high-grade manganese ore in Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka. India supplies manganese to U.S.A, U.K, France and Japan.
Brazil produced 440 thousand metric tons of manganese in 1988. Brazil has deposits in the Lafayette district in the Minas Gerais. Reserves have been estimated at 10 million tons in the State of Minas Gerais, where Ouro Preto is the principal mining centre. South Africa has deposits near Postmasburg in Griqualand West, Cape Province. Ghana has deposits of high-grade manganese ore. The U.S.A has small deposits of manganese ore in South Dakota, Arkansas, Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia. Chile has manganese ore mined near Coquimbo.
The major exporters of manganese are India, Brazil, South Africa, Gabon, Ghana and Zaire. The United States is the leading importer of manganese. Other main importing countries are Japan, France, Germany and the United Kingdom.
Molybdenum: Molybdenite is the principal ore, the production of which is given in terms of concentrates ranging from 48 to 49 per cent metallic molybdenum; it is used in making quality steel as it increases strength, ductility and resistance to shock. It is used extensively in high temperature alloys developed for components of gas turbines, jet engines and turbo superchargers. In this metal the U.S.A holds virtually a monopolistic control.
The United States with 50% of the world production is the main producer of molybdenum. Colorado, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and California produce molybdenum in the U.S.A Colorado supplies about 60 per cent of total output. U.S.A produced 30.2 thousand metric tons of molybdenum ore (Mo content) in 1988 against the world production of 33.8 thousand metric tons. Chile, Russia and Canada are other major producers.
Tungsten: It is used because it retains hardness and toughness even at high temperature. It is almost essential in modern metallurgy, particularly in the making of alloy steels.
China leads in production of tungsten followed by Russia and the U.S.A. The other producing areas are Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, Portugal, Korea, Burma, and Australia. USA produced 4.7 thousand metric tons in 1983. Korean Republic raised 4.1 thousand metric tons of tungsten ore (Wo3 content) in 1988. China (31%) and Russia (19%) are the major producers of Tungsten in the world. Other producing countries are South Korea, Australia, Portugal, Bolivia and Brazil.
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