PIG IRON Meaning and
Definition
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Pig iron is a term used to describe an intermediate product of the iron and steel manufacturing process. It is a brittle, hard, and relatively high-carbon iron alloy, typically containing between 2-4% carbon, along with impurities such as silicon, sulfur, manganese, and phosphorus.
The production of pig iron is achieved by smelting iron ore in a blast furnace. In this process, iron ore, along with limestone and coke (an impure form of carbon derived from coal), is fed into the furnace. The intense heat and chemical reactions in the furnace cause the carbon in the coke to react with the oxygen in the iron ore, resulting in the reduction of the ore to molten iron.
Pig iron derived from this process is characterized by its high carbon content, which makes it brittle and unsuitable for many applications. It is primarily used as a raw material in the production of cast iron, steel, and other iron-based alloys. The high carbon content makes pig iron easily fusible, allowing it to be melted and combined with other materials to create various iron and steel products.
Depending on the intended end-use, pig iron can be further refined through processes like bessemerization or steel-making to remove impurities and adjust the carbon content to achieve desired properties. Pig iron is an important intermediate product that serves as the foundation for the production of various iron and steel products, playing a crucial role in the global metal industry.
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Cast-iron as first extracted from the ore in pigs.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for PIG IRON
- oig iron
- lig iron
- -ig iron
- 0ig iron
- pug iron
- pjg iron
- pkg iron
- pog iron
- p9g iron
- p8g iron
- pif iron
- piv iron
- pib iron
- pih iron
- piy iron
- pit iron
- pig uron
- pig jron
- pig kron
- pigiron
- pig ironn
Etymology of PIG IRON
The word "pig iron" traces its origins back to the 18th century. It is believed to have originated from the method used to produce the iron. During this period, molten iron was poured into a branching structure of molds that resembled a sow (a female pig) nursing her piglets. These molds, arranged in a circular pattern, were known as "sows", while the resulting solid chunks of iron were called "piglets". Eventually, the term "pig iron" became synonymous with the product itself. The use of "pig" in this context is likely an analogy to the appearance of the molds rather than a reference to pigs or their characteristics.
Similar spelling word for PIG IRON
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