Manganese and Manganese Alloys

Abstract Manganese minerals, pretreatment of manganese ores, and smelting processes are reviewed. The reduction of manganese ores and the production of high carbon ferromanganese and of silicomanganese are discussed as is the electrolytic production of manganese metal. The safety of ferromanganese production in electric furnaces is presented. Manganese and manganese alloy production is closely tied to the steel industry. Many specialty steels contain significant quantities of manganese. Other important uses of manganese occur in the cast iron and aluminum industries where manganese metal is used as an alloy addition to aluminum that is used for beverage containers.