Quick revision for PSC: blast furnace basics (coke, flux, tuyeres, melting zone temperature), common iron ores, wrought iron purity & behaviour on heating, puddling process furnace, and Aston (Byers) process with Bessemer converter.
Quick Notes
Use these before attempting the MCQs.
Coke in smelting
Coke acts as fuel and produces CO, which reduces iron ore to iron.
Flux & slag
Flux (often limestone) is charged to lower the melting point and combine with impurities to form molten slag.
Blast furnace parts
Tuyeres are nozzles that force hot blast into the furnace. Melting zone is about 1000°C–1700°C.
Wrought iron & processes
Wrought iron is nearly pure iron (~99.9%). On heating, it becomes pasty (forgable) rather than fully melting. Puddling uses a reverberatory furnace; Aston process uses a Bessemer converter.
MCQs
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1) What is the main purpose of coke in the smelting process of iron ore?
2) Which of the following is NOT a type of iron ore?
3) What is the purpose of flux in the blast furnace?
4) What is the function of tuyeres in the blast furnace?
5) At what temperature does the melting zone in the blast furnace occur (pig iron production)?
6) What is the iron content in wrought iron?
7) How does wrought iron behave when heated?
8) What type of furnace is used in the puddling process?
9) In the Aston process, what is used to refine molten pig-iron and steel scrap?
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