Pig iron, also known as crude iron, is an intermediate product of the iron industry in the production of steel which is obtained by smelting iron ore in a blast furnace. When the metal had cooled and hardened, the smaller ingots (the “pigs”) were simply broken from the runner (the “sow”), hence the name “ pig iron “.
The name ”pig iron” originated in the early days of iron-ore reduction when the total output of the blast furnace was sand cast into ”pigs” a mass of iron roughly resembling the shape of a reclining pig. The oldest method of pig casting in sandbeds has been largely superseded by pig casting machines.
What is pig iron, and what are its uses?
The undesirable elements in the melt are diluted that aids in the depleted cost of scrap. The predictable and stable composition of the iron helps achieve better control over the final composition of casting, which leads to an enhanced mechanical output of the casting. It demands lower storage space and lesser charge buckets., and more items.
Merchant pig iron comprises three main types:
basic pig iron: used mainly in electric arc steelmaking
foundry pig iron (also known as haematite pig iron ): used in mainly in the manufacture of grey iron castings in cupola furnaces
high purity pig iron (also known as nodular pig iron ): used in the manufacture of ductile [also known as nodular or spheroidal graphite – SG] iron castings.
Is pig iron and cast iron the same?
Pig iron is the iron obtained directly from furnace i., and e. Blast furnace, while cast iron is obtained after removing of impurities selectively from pig iron and it has carbon % greater than 2.1. Originally Answered: Difference between cast iron and pig iron?
We should dig in. the difference between pig iron and cast iron. Steelmaking pig iron The silicon content of steel-making pig iron is not more than 1.7%, and the carbon exists in the form of Fe3C. Cast iron The silicon content of cast iron is 1.25~3.6%. Carbon mostly exists in the state of graphite. Pig iron for ductile casting.