Direct Reduced Iron (DRI)
What is DRI?
How is it produced?
Most gas-based direct reduction plants are part of integrated steel mini-mills, located adjacent to the electric arc furnace (EAF) steel plant. DRI can be either hot or cold charged to the EAF. Some steel companies ship DRI from their captive direct reduction plants to their remote steel mills and a small volume of DRI is sold to third parties. In India there are many small rotary kiln furnaces producing DRI, known locally as sponge iron, using coal as energy and reductant source. Some of the sponge iron plants are captive to steel mills, but there is a significant domestic merchant market, India producing 57% of its crude steel in electric arc furnaces (2016).
At integrated mini-mills, DRI can be hot charged to the EAF, at temperatures in the region of 650° C, thus making significant energy savings.
Looking to buy or sell OBMs?
The IIMA does not trade any metallics. Anyone looking to buy or sell metallics should search our members’ page to find IIMA member companies who deal with production and trade in metallics.
Composition and characteristics of DRI
General specifications for DRI (ranges % by weight) based on 65.5 – 68% Fe iron ore.
Characteristic
Value
Metallisation
92.0 – 96.0%
Fe (Total)
86.1 – 93.5%
Fe (Metallic)
81.0 – 87.9%
C
1.0 – 4.5%
S
0.001 – 0.03%
P2O5
0.005 – 0.09%
Gangue*
3.9 – 8.4%
Size (typical)
4 – 20 mm
Apparent density
3.4 – 3.6 t/m3
Bulk density
1.6 – 1.9 t/m3
Shipping and handling of DRI
A Being a highly reduced material, DRI has a tendency to re-oxidise, an exothermic reaction. Thus, without appropriate precautions being taken in its handling, transport and storage, there is a risk of self-heating and fires. The International Maritime Organisation’s International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code classifies DRI – Direct Reduced Iron (B) – as Group B (cargo with chemical hazard) and class MHB (material hazardous only in bulk) and requires that DRI be shipped under an inert atmosphere, usually nitrogen.
Further information can be found in IIMA’s logistics and technical guides below.
DRI resources
Direct Reduced Iron (DRI): Guide for Shipping, Handling and Storage
Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) Fines: Guide for Shipping, Handling and Storage
Use of Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) in the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) for Steelmaking
More information on DRI
Read more about DRI’s uses and advantages in our EAF fact sheet:
OBM production
Find out more information on how OBMs are produced.
Images courtesy of Nucor
Fact sheets on ore-based metallics
What are Ore-Based Metallics?
An overview of Ore-Based Metallics (OBMs), types, typical benefits in use and general specifications.
Use and Benefits of Ore-Based Metallics
A more detailed coverage of the benefits of using OBMs in EAF steelmaking.
Use of Hot Briquetted Iron (HBI) in the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) for Steelmaking
Background to and advantages of use of HBI in the EAF and general characteristics.
Use of Hot Briquetted Iron (HBI) in the Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) for Steelmaking
Background to and advantages of use of HBI in the BOF and general characteristics.
Use of Hot Briquetted Iron (HBI) in the Blast Furnace (BF) for Hot Metal Production
Background to and reasons for use of HBI in the blast furnace and general characteristics.
Use of Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) in the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) for Steelmaking
Background to and advantages of use of DRI in the EAF and general characteristics.
Use of Basic Pig Iron in the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) for Steelmaking
Background to and advantages of use of pig iron in the EAF and general characteristics.
Use of Granulated Pig Iron (GPI) in the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) for Steelmaking
Background to and advantages of use of GPI in the EAF and general characteristics.
Use of High Purity Pig Iron for Foundries Producing Ductile Iron Castings
Background to and benefits of using HPPI in production of ductile iron castings and general characteristics.
Use of Foundry Pig Iron in Grey Iron Castings
Background to and benefits of using Foundry Pig Iron in production of grey iron castings and general characteristics.
Relevance of Iron Ore to OBMs
Basic information about iron ore and its relevance to production of ore-based metallics.
Value-in-Use of Ore Based Metallics (OBMs) in EAF Steelmaking
An overview of the value-in-use concept and IIMA's model
Types of OBMs
Direct Reduced Iron (DRI)
DRI is the product of the direct reduction of iron ore in the solid state by carbon monoxide and hydrogen derived from natural gas or coal.
More about DRIHot Briquetted Iron (HBI)
HBI is a premium form of DRI that has been compacted at high temperature making it less reactive.
More about HBIPig Iron
Pig iron is the product of smelting iron ore (also ilmenite) with a high-carbon fuel and reductant such as coke, usually with limestone as a flux.
More about Pig IronGranulated Pig Iron (GPI)
Granulating excess pig iron produces a product GPI which can be used as BOF coolant or as feedstock for electric arc furnaces, cupolas and induction furnaces.
More about GPI