Ironmaking

Ironmaking is the process of producing iron from iron ore, primarily using a blast furnace. In this process, iron ore is combined with coke (a form of carbon) and limestone, then heated to very high temperatures. The heat causes chemical reactions: the iron ore transforms into molten iron, while impurities like limestone turn to slag, which can be removed. The resulting molten iron, called pig iron, can then be refined further to produce steel or other iron-based products. This process is fundamental to manufacturing steel and is a key step in producing many metal goods.