Alloys containing more than 14 per cent to 99 per cent silicon, with the rest being impurities or another (or two) major elements, are commonly referred to as silicon products through smelting. Usually includes industrial silicon (silicon metal), ferrosilicon, barium silicate, silicon carbide, calcium silicate, etc. The most commonly used are industrial silicon (silicon metal) and ferrosilicon.
The following two basic conditions must be met for smelting silicon products:
① A place with a high capacity for cleaning up its own environment (a place that also allows for the generation of mild sources of pollution);
② abundant low-cost power supply.
Due to heavy pollution, high energy-consuming silicon metallurgical enterprises can only be distributed in remote, hydropower-rich (individual thermal power-rich) areas, and subject to power constraints, in the dry season, often due to power restrictions and production cuts or shutdowns.
