- Chemical Name:Calcium Fluoride, Silicon Dioxide
- Functions:Flux
Metallurgical Grade Fluorspar, also referred to as ‘metspar’, calcium fluoride, fluorite or CaF₂ is an essential raw material for steel producers, ceramics and chemical industries. CaF₂ is composed of 51.1% calcium and 48.9% fluorine. Metspar is about 60%-85% calcium fluoride depending on where it is sourced and what residual elements are in the deposits. Metspar is widely used in the steel making process as a fluxing agent. The fluorspar affects the slag, (a stony waste matter separated from metals during the smelting or refining of ore) by making it more fluid. Metspar, or fluorspar in general, also decreases the melting point for the raw iron ore referred to as temperature control and removes additional impurities such as sulfur and phosphorus. Fluorspar takes its name from the Latin word “fluo” which means “flow” because as it lowers the melting point of ores to make steel, the ores flow more easily. Metspar also reduces any re-oxidation (for example rusting) of the final liquid metal.