Main uses and applications

Iron is the fourth most common element in the Earth’s crust and the most common element in the Earth overall [1]. However, iron is almost never found in its metallic state; instead, it is extracted from iron ores. The vast majority of iron ore is used in steelmaking, in which iron is alloyed with carbon and other minerals to produce a material more ideally suited for construction due to its strength and versatility [2]. In terms of volume, significantly more iron – in the form of steel – is used by humans than all other metals combined.  

The most important use of steel is in construction, where it is used in beams, reinforcing rods and other components. It is also used to make vehicles, industrial equipment, machinery, bridges, and highways. Steel is employed in water pipes and canned food, and paints. It is sold in more than 3,500 different grades, with different attributes, sizes and thicknesses to make it suitable for its wide range of applications [3].

Only 2% of iron ore is used in applications other than steel. These applications include as a powder to add to certain types of magnets, in medications and research as radioactive iron, and also as a pigment as iron blue and black iron oxide [4].