The Flodin process is a direct reduction process for manufacturing modern iron and steel, developed by Gustaf Henning Flodin from

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...

and patented in 1924. It has been used in Norway,

, and the United States. Using a specially constructed electric arc furnace, a mixture of

hematite Hematite (), also spelled as haematite, is a common iron oxide compound with the formula, Fe2O3 and is widely found in rocks and soils. Hematite crystals belong to the rhombohedral lattice system which is designated the alpha polymorph of . ...

with +0.2% carbon content and coal (or charcoal) is smelted in a continuous process, with the reduced metal accumulating at the bottom of the furnace, where it can be tapped off. Carbon content in the product can be controlled by changing the quantity of coal in the furnace. Noncorroding chromium steel could also be produced by using impure ore instead of hematite. Likewise, spongy iron can be cast by using coal-lime briquettes. Additionally, the Flodin furnace also can be used to produce so-called 'soft steel'.

References

Steelmaking Swedish inventions {{Industry-stub