Steels produced superior quality

Methanol is used in the steel industry [97]. Methanol has been proposed as a synthesis source in the direct reduction of iron or to sponge iron (containing 90% of Fe) by removing most of the oxygen at a temperature of about 850 C. Molten iron is not produced in this process but is formed in the conventional blast fiirnace route of iron core reduction. This process has ined popularity because it requires a smaller capital investment and produces a superior quality product than the traditional blast fixmace route. Currently, natural gas is the primary reductant used, but methanol is considered when coal, natural s, or fuel oil is not readify available at the iron ore mine mouth. 

The development of chemical technology has made it possible to produce high-grade silk and woollen fabrics, extremely valuable plastics, synthetic rubber, leather substitutes, detergents (soaps), dyestuffs, etc., all from our crude oil resources. The synthetic materials being produced at present are of very high quality. In many cases components of various machines, mechanisms and structural designs made from special plastics have proved to be superior in quality to identical components made of steel, iron, brass and other metals. The position is the same with a number of other synthetic materials used to produce a wide variety of components that are also employed in many other branches of the national economy, and also in everyday life. 

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