Where Does Steel Come From?
Table of Contents
Steel, one of the most important metals of our modern world, comes from naturally-occurring minerals such as iron ore. This strong, useful metal is employed in everything from serving spoons to skyscrapers.
Iron
Iron ore that occurs naturally in the earth's crust must be transformed in order to produce one of the several useful metals derived from it, including cast iron, wrought iron and steel.
Carbon
The addition of a small amount of carbon, another element, to iron helps lend steel its strength.
Other Elements
Steel often contains elements other than iron and carbon: manganese, phosphorus, sulfur, silicon, nickel and chromium. Sometimes the elements are added intentionally. At other times, they occur naturally.
Steel Making
At a steel plant, a heat source melts iron ore in a furnace at temperatures exceeding 1,540 degrees Celsius (2,800 degrees Fahrenheit). Molten iron is then processed to create steel.
Steel Industry
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, iron and steel are, on average, the least expensive metals available. Of all the tons of metal produced in the world each year, 95 percent is iron and steel.
References
Writer Bio
Elisabeth Dahl is a freelance writer and copyeditor who has worked in publishing since 1991. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Arts degree from Georgetown University, where she was a Writing Center Associate Fellow.
Photo Credits
- Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Hamed Saber
- Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Hamed Saber
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