What is the role of silicon in killed steel?

Silicon plays a crucial role in killed steel primarily as a deoxidizer. In the steelmaking process, the presence of oxygen can cause harmful effects, such as the formation of inclusions and porosity in the final product. Killed steel is produced by removing oxygen, and silicon serves to bind with the oxygen, thereby reducing its content in the molten steel. This process leads to a cleaner, more homogeneous steel with improved mechanical properties.

By effectively deoxidizing the steel, silicon helps to enhance the overall integrity of the material, making it less prone to defects. While silicon does contribute to some degree to the ductility and strength of steel, its primary function in this context is to facilitate the deoxidation process, ensuring the quality of killed steel is maintained. This results in a steel that has improved performance in various applications, particularly those that demand high reliability and strength.