In the metallurgy of steel making, an iron oxide oxide is first reduced to form iron oxide or iron oxide oxide which is the iron oxide used in steel production. To make iron oxide oxide, the ore must be heated in a furnace at temperatures between 1400-1550 degrees Celsius (depending on the type of ore) until a solid iron oxide oxide is created. This process is known as reduction.
The second step in steel production is the firing or sintering stage, which removes impurities and strengthens the iron oxide oxide. During this process, the iron oxide oxide is placed in a large furnace and heated over a period of several hours at temperatures of up to 1600 degrees Celsius. The heat breaks the large particles of iron oxide down into smaller particles, thereby minimizing the size of the grains and increasing their surface area. This increased surface area allows more impurities to be oxidized, removed from the ore, and removed from the iron oxide oxide. The result is a stronger material than the raw ore.
The third step in steel production is the “slag burns” stage. During this process, the temperatures in the furnace are increased further to 2000-2400 degrees Celsius. This increases the rate at which impurities are burned into the slag. The slag is then removed and cooled, and the iron oxide (which remains) is referred to as “hot reduced iron oxide” or “hot reduced iron oxide oxide”.
The final step in steel production is the “annealing” process, which allows the iron oxide oxide to cool slowly over a period of several days and to take on its final form. This improves the ductility, strength, and overall quality of the steel.
Overall, the primary goal of the two-step process of reduction and firing is to effectively and efficiently produce a superior grade of iron oxide oxide for use in steel production. The end result is an extremely strong and durable material that is less prone to deterioration due to exposure to heat and water. In addition, this type of iron oxide oxide is more resistant to corrosion and is able to withstand higher temperatures without degrading. Ultimately, the process of reduction and firing has been a crucial step in bringing steel to the forefront of todays manufacturing processes, and it continues to be instrumental in the production of high-quality steel products.
