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pig iron

Definition

Semi-finished metal produced from iron ore in blast furnace, containing 92 percent iron, high amounts of carbon (typically up to 3.5 percent), and balance largely manganese and silicone plus small amounts of phosphorus, sulfur, and other impurities. Pig iron is further refined in a furnace for conversion into steel. It gets its name from the shape of trough (resembling a pig) in which it used to be cast in the 19th century.

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