Ferrochromium is used to increase tensile strength and yield strength of steels. With that, chromium increases hardness and wear resistance of carbon steels and confers stainless properties to low-carbon steels (with chromium content in them 12 % min).

Ferrochromium is subdivided into 4 groups according to the carbon content:

high-carbon grades with the carbon content from 4.0 to 9.0 %;
medium-carbon grades with the carbon content from 0.5 to 4.0 %;
low-carbon grades with the carbon content 0.5 % max;
low-carbon nitrogen-bearing grades with the nitrogen content 1.0–6.0 %.

Ferrochromium is delivered in lumps not more than 315 mm in size and 20 kg in mass or according to size classes. It is acceptable to produce high-carbon ferrochromium in pigs weighing up to 30 kg.