Fe

1. Iron ore:
Iron-bearing ores in nature, whose main chemical element is iron, commonly include magnetite (Fe₃O₄), hematite (Fe₂O₃), limonite (Fe₂O₃·nH₂O), and siderite (FeCO₃). They are often accompanied by elements such as manganese, phosphorus, sulfur, silicon, and aluminum. Some high-grade ores can be directly fed into the furnace. Iron is the most fundamental initial raw material for the steel industry. Through processes such as mining, crushing, and beneficiation, it provides the foundation for subsequent pig iron smelting and is a cornerstone of modern industrial civilization.

2. Iron concentrate:
High-grade iron ore, obtained through crushing, grinding, and beneficiation (such as magnetic separation, flotation, and gravity separation), has a significantly increased iron content and a substantial reduction in impurities such as silica. It is a superior raw material for producing pellets or sinter and is crucial for achieving efficient and low-consumption smelting in the modern steel industry. Its quality directly determines the economics of subsequent ironmaking and the quality of steel products.

3. Iron ore powder:
Iron ore, after being crushed and ground, yields a powdery material with a particle size typically less than 1 millimeter. It is a crucial raw material in steel production, primarily used in the sintering process (agglomeration) or directly in the pelletizing process to prepare the furnace charge required for blast furnaces. Its composition and particle size directly affect the quality of sinter/pelletized ore and subsequent smelting efficiency.

4. Hot-pressed iron:
Direct reduced iron (DRI) is a dense, blocky product produced by pressing DRI at high temperatures. It has a high metallic iron content, stable chemical properties, and is not easily oxidized or spontaneously combusted. As a substitute for high-quality scrap steel or a diluent, it is mainly used in electric arc furnace steelmaking, enabling precise control of molten steel composition, and is particularly suitable for producing high-end clean steel.

5. Cast iron/pig iron:
High-carbon iron, obtained from blast furnace smelting of iron ore, typically has a carbon content between 2% and 4.5%, and high levels of silicon, manganese, phosphorus, and sulfur. It is hard and brittle, and cannot be forged. Pig iron is a basic primary product of the steel industry, with two main flows: most is refined into steel in converters as raw material; a smaller portion is directly cast into cast iron parts for manufacturing engine blocks, machine tool beds, pipes, etc.

6. Steel:
Iron is a general term for a series of alloy materials with iron and carbon as their basic elements. Steel with a carbon content below 2.11% is generally called steel, characterized by high strength, good toughness, and high plasticity. Thousands of different grades with varying properties can be obtained by adjusting the carbon content and adding other alloying elements. Steel with a higher carbon content is called cast iron. Iron and steel form the backbone of modern industry, and its products (such as plates, wires, profiles, and pipes) cover all fields from construction bridges, machinery vehicles, ships and aircraft to everyday household items.

7. Steel scrap:
Also known as scrap steel, it originates from scrapped automobiles, ships, building structures, machinery and equipment, as well as trimmings and defective products from the steel production process. It is a strategic resource that can be recycled indefinitely and is the main raw material for short-process electric arc furnace steelmaking. Its recycling is of core significance for saving mineral resources, reducing energy consumption, and reducing carbon emissions, forming the green circular cornerstone of the modern steel industry.