Question: How is steel made?

Answer : Most steel is made via one of two basic routes:
Integrated (blast furnace and basic oxygen furnace).Electric arc furnace (EAF).
The integrated route uses raw materials (that is, iron ore, limestone and coke) and scrap to create steel. The EAF method uses scrap as its principal input.

The EAF method is much easier and faster since it only requires scrap steel. Recycled steel is introduced into a furnace and re-melted along with some other additions to produce the end product.

Steel can be produced by other methods such as open hearth. However, the amount of steel produced by these methods decreases every year.

Question: What is steel?

Answer : Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon containing less than 2% carbon and 1% manganese and small amounts of silicon, phosphorus, sulphur and oxygen. Steel is the world's most important engineering and construction material. It is used in every aspect of our lives; in cars and construction products, refrigerators and washing machines, cargo ships and surgical scalpels.