What is Pig iron?
[[File:Pig iron.jpg|thumb|Pig iron of a type used to make ductile iron, stored in a bin]] '''Pig iron''' is [[iron]] with a high carbon content. Pig iron is made by [[smelting]] iron ore into [[ingot]] form, in a [[blast furnace]]. It’s called pig iron because when being [[Casting (metalworking)|cast]], each ingot being cast looks like a [[Pig|Piglet]] suckling milk from a sow. ==History== Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Chinese knew about pig iron, and were producing it as early as 1100 BC. ==Uses== Pig iron is refined into [[Wrought iron]] by melting it and blowing hot air through it. Pig iron can also be turned into gray iron. ==Modern Uses== Originally, pig iron was poured out the bottom of the furnace and shipped to a [[steel mill]] for processing. Now, we turn the metal into pellets before shipping it. [[Category:Iron]] [[Category:Alloys]] {{stub}}