Properties and Features of Direct Reduced Iron

The blast furnace process is still the predominant method for primary iron production. However, the disadvantages inherent to the process led to the development of alternative processes such as the mini blast furnace process, smelting reduction process, and direct reduction process. Many of these alternative processes are still under development. However, direct reduction processes have reached some level of commercial applicability and are considered to be the most developed alternative ironmaking route. It is coke-less and environmentally friendlier when compared to the blast furnace process. In addition, direct reduced iron has a well-defined chemical composition when compared with steel scrap and has efficient melting properties in the electric arc furnace. Consequently, there is a great increase in the demand for direct reduced iron in electric arc steel making. These attractive features have led to an increase in worldwide production of direct reduced iron, which is currently approaching 50 million tons. Thus, direct reduced iron is gaining more importance. Hence, this article summarizes the basic properties and features of direct reduced iron.