Steel is one of the most important materials used in the construction of the world today. It is used for everything from bridges to buildings and for the production of most everyday items. Steel is created by the melting and refining of iron ore in specially designed furnaces. A compound of several different elements, steel is made from iron and carbon, both of which are found in nature.
Once iron ore has been melted and refined in a furnace, it is called “pig iron.” This form of iron is much too hard and brittle to be used for most forms of construction. To make it malleable and better suited for construction, it needs to be further refined and purified. This process is done by “blasting” pig iron with hot air, and “cooking” it with carbon. This process, known as “steel refining,” results in two different types of steel - “low carbon steel” and “high carbon steel.” Low carbon steel is softer and more malleable, while high carbon steel is harder and more durable.
Once the steel has been refined and purified, it needs to be “heat treated” to make it stronger and more durable. Heat treating involves heating the steel to high temperatures and cooling it quickly. This process tempers the steel and makes it much more resistant to corrosion. The steel is then “quenched” in a cooling bath of water or oil to stop the heat-treatment process and prepare the steel for further manufacturing.
Once the steel has been heat-treated and quenched, it is ready for further use. Steel products such as beams, bars, and rods can then be cut and shaped as needed for specific purposes. In some cases, additional heat-treatments are done to make the steel even harder and more durable.
Steel is an incredibly useful material, and it is no surprise that it is so widely used. Its uses in construction and manufacturing are invaluable, and its strength and durability mean that it will continue to be an important part of our lives for many years to come. Steel refining and heat-treating are essential processes in the production of any kind of steel, and without them, we would not have the strong and dependable steel products that we use today.
