Application of Different Vanadium Alloys in Steel

The current status of vanadium bearing steel and characteristics of different vanadium alloys were analyzed, the effect of different vanadium alloys on V absorption rate and steel properties was investigated, and the varieties of steel properties and V/N ratio under different nitrogen conditions were discussed. It could be concluded that the ferrovanadium should be used mainly in the steel with strict limits on nitrogen content and the ferrovanadium nitride would be preferred in vanadium-nitrogen strengthened steel. The vanadium-nitrogen strengthening can be enhanced with nitrogen-bearing vanadium alloy, which is in favor of cost reduction. The V/N ratio should be in the range of 4 to 6 in commercial production with the optimum ratio of 4.5. Keywords-vanadium alloy; ferrovanadium; ferrovanadium nitride; V/N ratio