Iron to Steel

• Molten iron from blast furnace is poured into an oxygen furnace.
• Powdered calcium oxide is added, and a jet of oxygen is turned on.
• The calcium oxide neutralizes acidic impurities, forming slag that is skimmed off and oxygen burns the other impurities away.
• The carbon content is checked continually until it is just right then the oxygen is turned off.

  • Mild Steel (0.25% carbon) – Used in machinery and car bodies
  • Medium carbon steel (0.5%) – Used in railway lines
  • High carbon steel (1.5% carbon) – Used in knives and blades