The main raw materials for steel include iron ore, manganese ore, iron-containing waste and flux. In the steel production process, iron ore is first smelted into pig iron, and then pig iron is used as raw material to smelt steel through different methods, and finally cast into ingots or continuous casting billets.
The composition of steel is very complex, mainly including iron, carbon and other alloying elements. Carbon is one of the main elements of steel, usually accounting for 0.05% to 1.7% of the total weight of steel. Carbon can increase the strength and hardness of steel, but it also reduces its plasticity and toughness. In addition, steel also contains other elements such as silicon, manganese, phosphorus, sulfur, etc., which have an important influence on the performance of steel.
The production process of steel includes ironmaking, steelmaking, continuous casting and rolling. Ironmaking is the process of reducing iron ore to pig iron, while steelmaking is the further refining of pig iron to obtain the desired properties by adjusting the composition and heat treatment. Continuous casting is the process of pouring molten steel into a mold to form a billet, which is then processed into steel of various shapes and sizes through processes such as rolling.
Steel can be divided into different types based on quality and chemical composition. Ordinary steel, high-quality steel and advanced high-quality steel are the three main types classified by quality, while carbon steel and alloy steel are the two main types classified by chemical composition. Carbon steel mainly contains iron and carbon elements, while alloy steel improves its mechanical and processing properties by adding other elements such as molybdenum, chromium, nickel, etc.
