ABSTRACT
Ferrous (iron-based) metals have widespread use throughout all branches of engineering but are particularly important in construction. Iron- and carbon-based alloys, that is cast iron and steel, are the principal forms of interest, and this chapter is primarily concerned with these, either for structural use in their own right or in the form of reinforcing or prestressing steel for concrete construction. This chapter briefly considers products formed by alloying with other elements, for example stainless steel. In the alternative electric arc process, the charge of metal and lime is melted by heat from an electric arc between graphite electrodes, which are lowered into the furnace. Reducing the carbon content of the pig iron gives rise to either cast iron or a range of steel types, generally with increasing ductility. The liquid is a solution of carbon in iron; the solid parts of the diagram consist of a mixture of the phases – austenite, ferrite and iron carbide (Fe3C).
