Unit 1: ENGINEERING MATERIALS IRON AND STEEL

Questions and Answers:

1. What is the first stage of the smelting of iron ore?
** Smelting of iron ore takes place in a blast furnace.At the beginning of the process the furnace is charged with coke(C), iron ore (Fe2O3) and limestone (CaCO3), which are placed in alternate layers.

2. What is the second stage?
** Then a blast of hot air at high pressure enters through the tuyere at the bottom of the furnace.

3. When does the coke burn to form carbaon dioxide?
** At the second stage the coke burns to form carbon dioxide.

4. Which reactions are simultaneous?
** The carbom monoxide then reacts with the hot iron ore, forming iron and carbon dioxide. At the same time, the limestone absorbs earthy impuruties from the ore, forming a liquid know as slag.

5. Why does the slag float on top of the molten iron?
** Because they are two layers there.

6. What is the final stage of the smelting of iron ore?
** The molten crude iron and slag pass out of the furnace at different levels.