Perhaps one of the most important and widely used elements in nature which is readily available to us is iron. Iron has long been one of the metals that have been used by humans in various ways. Even today, iron is used in making steel and other alloys. In fact, it can be said that 98% of the iron which is extracted from iron ore eventually becomes steel and is used in various industries. There is no substitute for iron in nature. In fact, no other element can be used to make steel, but steel itself can be replaced with other alloys.
For example, today in many industries such as bicycle or cars manufacturing, aluminum alloy can be used instead of steel. However, iron and steel play a very vital and extensive role in human life. In this article, we intend to provide information about iron ore and eventually the iron element itself and to briefly review its industrial applications.
How is the process of extracting iron from iron ore?
After extracting iron ore from the mine, it is necessary to first separate the waste materials in it so that the iron can be extracted. This process is called “ore processing”. Usually, most of the iron ore is separated from the useful elements in the form of waste.
What is the use of iron ore in industry?
Iron ore is a mineral from which iron is extracted and used in various industries. For this reason, in this article, where the use of iron ore in the industry is mentioned, it also includes the industrial uses of iron. As mentioned, iron is mostly used in the production of steel. Steel is widely used in automotive, construction and shipbuilding industries.
Automotive industry
Steel has played a very important role in car manufacturing since the advent of cars. But today, some car manufacturers are trying to replace steel with aluminum or even composite fibers. However, due to the high resilience of steel and its relatively easy access, steel has been able to maintain its position in this industry. The effective cost of steel is also very reasonable, this is another reason for its use in the automotive industry.
related articles : What are the industrial uses of aluminum ?
Shipbuilding
From the end of the 19th century, iron and steel gradually replaced wood in shipbuilding. Since the Second World War, steel has been able to completely strengthen its place in this industry. The reason for this is that steel is lighter than iron, and it is less likely to rust and rot. Today, stainless steel can be a very suitable material for shipbuilding due to its desirable weight, malleability and cheap and simple welding.
Construction
When it comes to construction, perhaps no other material other than steel can meet human needs properly. In the past, when buildings were built only with stone, wood, and mud, it was not possible to have tall buildings like what we know today as skyscrapers. But with the advancements in construction and the use of steel frames, man has been able to achieve very tall and strong structures.
Machine building
The use of steel in machine building has taken the third place among all industries. In machine building, depending on the type of tools and machines that are produced, it is necessary to use many raw materials, of which steel can definitely be one. Today, machine building has played a very important role in other industries due to the fact that it is considered one of the mother industries, and for this reason, the role of steel appears much more crucial.
Aerospace industry
The materials used in the aerospace industry must have a very high resistance in order to maintain their structure and shape against pressure, heat, oxidation and corrosion in the long term. For this reason, the use of stainless steel can be very helpful for this purpose. Stainless steel is very resilient to heat, pressure, oxidation and corrosion. In the aerospace industry, according to the need, stainless steel and its types can be used in the desired applications.
Home appliance industry
Iron and steel are also used abundantly in the home appliance industry. From making refrigerators to heaters and gas stoves, they all depend on iron and steel. Depending on the quality and price of manufactured household appliances, different types of iron and its alloys may be used.
Last word
Iron ore, iron and steel have been used by mankind since ancient times. Today, steel is one of the most common alloys that are used commercially in many industries. As mentioned, alternatives to steel have been used in recent years, but in the end, its complete substitution does not seem very logical. China is the largest producer and consumer of iron ore in the world. Our country, Iran, is one of the major producers and consumers of this mineral as well. Further research on iron and steel production process leads us to its increasing use scenarios, as well as new applications are being envisioned for it in the near future.
