Raw material:

The last raw material in the iron making procedure is limestone. The limestone is eliminated from the earth by blasting along explosives. It is then screened and crushed to a size that ranges from 0.5 to 1.5 inch to become blast furnace flux. This flux might be pure high calcium limestone, dolomitic limestone having magnesia or a blend of the two kind of limestone.

As the limestone is melted to become the slag that eliminate sulphur and other impurities, the blast furnace operator might blend the different stones to generated the desired slag chemistry that built optimum properties such like a and high fluidity and low melting point.