Established as the primary output of the blast furnace (BF) route, Pig iron is the basic metallic material created from iron ore through a smelting process.
It is characterized by a high carbon content (typically 3.5–4.5%), which, while making it brittle, serves as the critical high-purity feedstock for steelmaking.
Transforming this carbon-rich material into crude steel through refinement underpins global infrastructure, ensuring a steady supply of high-quality virgin metallic units when scrap availability is limited.
Q: What is the strategic difference between Pig Iron and Scrap Steel in manufacturing?
A: Pig iron is a "virgin" material with high purity, whereas scrap can contain impurities. For high-end applications such as automotive and precision engineering, pig iron is often preferred to ensure the chemical integrity of the final crude steel.
Q: Why is Pig Iron significant in the context of the Circular Economy?
A: While the Circular Economy prioritizes scrap recycling, pig iron remains essential for "refreshing" the steel cycle. It provides high-quality metallic units necessary to maintain infrastructure performance standards when high-grade scrap is in short supply.