Division 03 — Trading Division — Carbon Additives

Karbon Katkıları

Carbon additives — also called recarburisers or carburisers — are carbonaceous materials added to iron and steel melts to raise the carbon content to the specified level. They are used in induction furnace foundries and electric arc steelmakers where the charge material does not supply sufficient carbon, and where precise carbon control is essential to meeting the target grade specification.

CFC Egypt's Trading Division sources and supplies carbon raisers and amorphous graphite for grey iron, ductile iron, and steel operations. The key properties of a carbon additive are fixed-carbon content, sulfur level, ash content, and particle size — all of which influence the speed of dissolution and the impact on melt chemistry. We supply materials with traceable specifications to support quality-conscious foundries that need reliable, repeatable carbon control heat after heat.

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What We Supply

Two principal carbon additive groups for raising carbon in iron and steel melts — petroleum coke-based recarburisers and natural amorphous graphite.

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Carbon Raiser (Recarburiser)

Petroleum coke-based recarburisers with high fixed carbon (95–99%), low sulfur, and controlled particle size for rapid, predictable dissolution in induction furnace iron melts and electric arc furnace steel melts. Used to bring charge carbon to specification when scrap or returns charge is below the target carbon equivalent.

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Amorphous Graphite

Natural microcrystalline (amorphous) graphite with 70–85% fixed carbon. A cost-effective carbon source for grey iron foundries, suitable as a recarburiser where slightly higher ash levels are acceptable, and also used as a graphitic mould wash additive for its dry lubricating properties and thermal stability at casting temperatures.

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Where Carbon Additives Are Used

Carbon additives are used wherever iron or steel melts are produced and the carbon content of the charge falls below the target specification — which is routine in induction-furnace foundries using scrap charge.

Induction Furnace Grey Iron

Grey iron foundries melting with steel scrap or internal returns regularly use recarburisers to bring the carbon equivalent to the target range of 3.8–4.3% CE. The recarburiser is charged with the scrap or added to the melt once the charge is molten, and its dissolution is confirmed by spectrometric analysis before tapping.

Ductile Iron Production

Ductile iron requires a higher carbon equivalent (typically 4.2–4.6%) for reliable nodularity and to compensate for carbon losses during magnesium treatment. A low-sulfur carbon raiser — typically calcined petroleum coke with <0.5% S — is the preferred recarburiser to avoid raising the sulfur load that would require additional desulfurisation before nodularisation.

Electric Arc Furnace Steel

EAF steelmakers use recarburisers as carbon injection material to maintain foamy slag and as ladle additions to trim carbon content after tapping. The carbon addition rate and timing relative to alloying additions are carefully controlled to hit the target carbon specification without overshooting and requiring dilution.

Cast Iron & General Foundry

Jobbing foundries producing a range of grey and ductile iron grades benefit from consistent carbon additives that dissolve predictably and allow fast, accurate charge corrections. Amorphous graphite offers a lower-cost option for grey iron grades where slightly elevated ash content from the graphite does not affect casting quality.

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Carbon Additive Products

Carbon raisers and amorphous graphite sourced and supplied by CFC Egypt's Trading Division for iron and steel foundries.

Carbon Raiser

Beton priz geciktirici ve süperakışkanlaştırıcı (ASTM C-494 - Tip A, D ve G)

Amorphous Graphite

Beton priz geciktirici ve süperakışkanlaştırıcı (ASTM C-494 - Tip A, D ve G)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Technical questions on carbon additive selection and application answered plainly. Contact our team for process-specific recommendations.

A carbon raiser (also called a recarburiser or carburiser) is a carbonaceous material added to an iron or steel melt to raise the carbon content to the target specification. In electric induction furnace foundries using scrap or pig iron charge, the base carbon content of the charge is often below the required level, and a carbon raiser is added to bring the melt to the correct carbon equivalent before tapping. The ideal carbon raiser dissolves quickly into the melt, has high fixed-carbon content, low sulfur and ash, and predictable carbon recovery.

The principal carbon additives used in iron foundries are calcined petroleum coke (CPC), synthetic graphite, and amorphous graphite. Calcined petroleum coke typically contains 98–99% fixed carbon with very low sulfur and ash, making it the standard recarburiser for ductile iron and high-quality grey iron. Synthetic graphite (ground graphitised electrode material) has even higher carbon content and dissolves quickly, making it suitable for demanding applications. Amorphous graphite (natural microcrystalline graphite, 70–85% carbon) is a lower-cost option used where slightly higher ash content is acceptable, and where its lubricating properties are also useful.

Amorphous graphite is a natural form of microcrystalline graphite mined from geological deposits, typically with 70–85% fixed carbon and higher ash content than synthetic grades. It is a cost-effective carbon source used in iron foundries as a recarburiser or as a mould and core coating additive. Synthetic graphite, by contrast, is manufactured by graphitising petroleum coke at high temperature, producing a very pure carbon product (98–99.5% C) with a well-ordered graphitic crystal structure and low impurity content. Synthetic graphite dissolves faster into the melt and introduces less sulfur and ash, but costs more than natural amorphous graphite.

Carbon is the primary alloying element in grey iron and ductile iron, and its level (together with silicon) determines the carbon equivalent (CE) of the iron — the parameter that controls whether the iron solidifies as grey (graphitic) or white (carbidic). For grey iron, the CE is typically 3.8–4.3%; for ductile iron, 4.2–4.6%. An iron that is too low in carbon may solidify with unwanted carbides, giving hard, brittle sections and poor machinability. Too high a carbon equivalent produces an iron that is prone to graphite flotation and surface porosity. Accurate carbon addition via a quality recarburiser is therefore essential for meeting grade specifications.

CFC Egypt's Trading Division sources carbon raisers — including petroleum coke-based recarburisers and amorphous graphite — from established suppliers and supplies them to foundries and steelmakers in Egypt and the MENA region. CFC Egypt does not manufacture these materials but provides sourcing, specification review, local availability, and application support. For specific carbon and sulfur content requirements, our team can advise on the most appropriate grade and verify supplier certificates.

Bizimle konuşun

Need a reliable carbon source for your melt?

Tell us your furnace type, the iron or steel grade you produce, and your typical charge carbon level. Our team will recommend the right recarburiser grade, quantity, and addition method for your process.