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Version 1.0, August 31, 2001, Copyright, Hugh Jack 1993-2001

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2.3.4 How To Make Steel

· Making steel is a process of reducing the following impurities in pig iron,

1. - manganese
2. - silicon
3. - carbon
4. - phosphorous
5. - sulphur
6. - etc

· This operation is commonly done in one of three furnaces,

1. - open hearth - flames are directly applied to the metal, and can be seen from the open hearth.
2. - electric
3. - basic oxygen - a blast of pure oxygen reacts with impurities

· The basic procedures with all of these furnaces is,

1. 1. Charge (pour in) scrap iron
2. 2. Pour in molten (pig) iron
3. 3. Add lime
4. 4. Run the furnace
5. 5. Tap the furnace to remove the steel - care must be used not to pour the slag on the surface
6. 6. Pour off the slag off

· Any oxygen left in the steel when solidified will combined with carbon. The result is small voids that are actually pockets of carbon monoxide gas. A killed steel will have all oxygen removed.

2.3.4.1 - Electric Furnaces