Pig Iron Technical Catalogue
High quality pig iron varieties and technical specifications for steel and foundry industry
Pig Iron Types
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Steel Pig Iron
High carbon pig iron used as charge material in steel production.
Chemical Composition
| Element | Min (%) | Max (%) | Typical (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 3.8 | 4.2 | 4.0 |
| Si | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.8 |
| Mn | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.4 |
| P | 0 | 0.05 | 0.04 |
| S | 0 | 0.03 | 0.02 |
Key Features
- High carbon content (3.8-4.2% C)
- Low silicon ratio
- Low phosphorus and sulfur
- Homogeneous chemical composition
- Stable melting behavior
Applications
- Electric arc furnace (EAF) charge
- Basic oxygen furnace (BOF) charge
- Induction furnace charge
- Carbon source in steel production
Technical Notes
- Low Si content is ideal for steel production.
- Phosphorus and sulfur ratios are tightly controlled.
- Ingot weight is typically between 5-20 kg.
- Store in dry and ventilated environment.
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Detailed Technical Information and Quotation
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Get Technical SupportWhat is pig iron?
Pig iron is high-carbon crude iron (about 3.5–4.5% C) produced by reducing iron ore with coke in a blast furnace. It is brittle and not used directly; it is an intermediate product that is refined into steel (by lowering the carbon) or remelted into cast iron. Main types are basic (steelmaking) pig iron, foundry (hematite) pig iron and nodular pig iron for ductile-iron casting.
How pig iron is made and where it is used
In a blast furnace, iron ore, coke and limestone are charged in layers; the molten iron collects at the hearth and is cast as pig iron. Its high carbon and silicon content make it hard but brittle. In steelmaking (BOF/EAF) it is melted with scrap as the primary raw material for steel; in foundries it serves as a charge material to adjust chemistry for grey and ductile iron castings. Controlling the composition (C, Si, Mn, S, P) determines the quality of the final product.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between pig iron and cast iron?+
Pig iron is the raw intermediate from the blast furnace; cast iron is the finished product made by remelting pig iron and pouring it into moulds (grey, ductile, etc.).
What is the carbon content of pig iron?+
About 3.5–4.5% carbon, plus silicon, manganese, sulphur and phosphorus. This high carbon makes it brittle.
What is pig iron used for?+
As the primary raw material for steelmaking (together with scrap) and as a charge material in foundries for grey and ductile iron castings.
What is nodular pig iron?+
A special low-sulphur, controlled-composition pig iron suitable for producing ductile (spheroidal-graphite) iron castings.
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