Direct Reduced Iron (DRI)
Sponge iron from direct reduction of pellets, the principal charge for electric arc furnaces; metallisation and carbon adjustable to the steelmaker’s practice.
Applications
- Electric arc furnace charge alongside scrap
- Induction furnace melting for long products
- Dilution of residual elements in scrap-based steel
- Foundry iron and ductile iron production
Frequently Asked Questions
Why add DRI when scrap is cheaper?
Because scrap carries residual copper, tin and nickel that cannot be removed in the furnace and accumulate with every recycling pass. Direct reduced iron is chemically clean, so it dilutes those residuals — which is what allows a scrap-based mill to hit flat-product and drawing-quality specifications it otherwise could not.
What metallisation should I specify?
Metallisation is the share of total iron present as metallic iron, and it drives yield directly. Above 92% is the usual export specification. A lower figure means more unreduced oxide, which consumes energy and carbon in the furnace to finish the reduction.
Is sponge iron safe to ship?
It requires care: DRI reoxidises in contact with moisture and can heat. It is carried under the IMSBC Code with the schedule matching the form — briquettes, lump or fines — and holds must be dry and inerted where the schedule calls for it. We ship the form and documentation the receiving port accepts.