How steel is manufactured by open heart process?

The open hearth process involves the use of a large, shallow furnace where pig iron and scrap steel are melted together with a flux, typically limestone, to remove impurities. The furnace is heated with a combination of natural gas and air, allowing for precise temperature control. As the molten metal is refined, carbon and other unwanted elements are oxidized away, producing steel with specific properties. The process, while largely replaced by more efficient methods like the basic oxygen process, was significant in the development of modern steel manufacturing.