Ferrophosphorus
ferrophosphorus
[¦fe·rō′fäs·fə·rəs]Ferrophosphorus
a ferroalloy whose principal components are iron and phosphorus (2–25 percent P). Ferrophosphorus is either produced in blast furnaces, where apatites or phosphorites are reduced in the presence of iron ore or iron turnings, or is obtained as a by-product from the electrothermic production of white phosphorus. The alloy is used in the smelting of structural steel and cast iron.