Microwave Steelmaking

Makarand writes "Researchers at the Michigan Technological University are working on a low-cost steelmaking process which uses microwaves to heat iron ore instead of conventional heating. Their steelmaking facility was made of magnetrons from six household microwaves wired together and an electric arc furnace. When fed iron oxide and coal, the microwave energy could reduce the iron ore to iron within minutes and the electric arc furnace smelted the iron and coal into steel. The steel industry is taking a closer look at this new process which could cut steel production costs by upto 50%."