What is a converter?
Q: What is a converter?
A: A converter is a chemical reactor which turns raw iron into steel.
Q: What is the raw iron called?
A: The raw iron is called pig iron, which is the product of blast furnace and contains up to 4% of carbon.
Q: Who invented the first successful converter?
A: The first successful converter was invented by Sir Henry Bessemer in 1856.
Q: How does a modern basic oxygen furnace work?
A: A modern basic oxygen furnace uses pure oxygen instead of air and consists of a large pumpkin-shaped vessel made from steel and lined with refractories such as calcium oxide and magnesium oxide line so the vessel can withstand high temperatures. Molten pig iron and scrap are loaded in the converter, then a special pipe called "oxygen lance" is lowered in the pig iron, and a very fast and sharp blow of oxygen is blasted in to burn all the carbon away. Once all carbon has been burned away, some extra carbon may be inserted to raise contents to desired level resulting in liquid steel that can be tapped away for rolling mill production.
Q: What happens when air containing nitrogen enters the process?
A: Air containing nitrogen can be harmful for some steel grades, so it should not enter into this process.
Q: What did Bessemer's invention do for steel production? A: Bessemer's invention enabled plentiful and cheap production of steel, thus beginning an era of increased availability of this material.
