What is the primary purpose of refining steel?

The primary purpose of refining steel is to remove impurities and enhance quality. During the refining process, various methods are employed to purify the steel, such as removing unwanted elements and adjusting the chemical composition. This results in a higher quality material that has improved mechanical properties, such as strength, ductility, and resistance to wear. By eliminating impurities like sulfur and phosphorus, the refining process ensures the steel has a more uniform and reliable performance in applications, making it suitable for critical structural purposes and other demanding environments.

Although improving ductility, enhancing temperature resistance, and increasing carbon content can be important aspects of steel properties, they are secondary concerns that can be addressed once the fundamental goal of purifying the steel and ensuring a high-quality product has been achieved.