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Physical & Chemical properties

Melting point / freezing point

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Description of key information

Melting point - Iron Powder: 1538 °C 
Melting point - Iron Furnace: 1150 to 1538 °C dependent upon the carbon content

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Melting / freezing point at 101 325 Pa:
1 538 °C

Additional information

The melting point of pure iron is 1538 °C but this is depressed as the carbon content is increased with the minimum melting point of 1150 °C (eutectic temperature) occurring at 4.3% carbon, the eutectic composition.

Thus, for high purity forms of iron such as iron powder, carbonyl iron etc the melting point will be approximately 1538 °C.

Iron furnace (DRI, HBI and pig iron) will have melting points between 1150 and 1538 °C, dependent upon the carbon content of the material.

For pure iron and for iron products containing 4.3% carbon melting takes place at a fixed constant temperature, but for iron products containing more or less carbon than the eutectic composition melting will take place over a range of temperatures from 1150 °C upwards.