|
Materials: Ferrous Metals
Ferrous Metals
As the most abundant of
all commercial metals, alloys of iron and
steel continue to cover a broad range of
structural applications. Iron ore is readily
available, constituting about 5% of the
earth's crust, and is easy to convert to
a useful form. Iron is obtained by fusing
the ore to drive off oxygen, sulfur, and
other impurities. The ore is melted in a
furnace in direct contact with the fuel
using limestone as a flux. The limestone
combines with impurities and forms a slag,
which is easily removed.
|
