Sponge iron

Direct Reduced Iron (DRI), also known as sponge iron, is the product of reducing iron oxide in the form of iron ore and steel plant wastes into metallic iron, below the melting point of iron and typically in the range of 800–1200 °C. Sponge iron is used in the iron and steel industry as a substitute for scrap in induction and electrical arc furnaces.

Over the years, the shortage of expensive melting scrap has made sponge iron a significant raw material for manufacturing high quality steel. What is the difference between Sponge Iron and Pig Iron? Sponge iron is a form of iron that we can produce directly from iron ore through a reduction process whereas pig iron is a form of iron that we can produce by melting iron ore along with charcoal and limestone under very high pressure.