Bessemer process

noun

, Metallurgy.

1. a process of producing steel, in which impurities are removed by forcing a blast of air through molten iron.

Bessemer process

noun

1. (formerly) a process for producing steel by blowing air through molten pig iron at about 1250°C in a Bessemer converter: silicon, manganese, and phosphorus impurities are removed and the carbon content is controlled
2. a similar process for removing sulphur and iron from copper matte

Bessemer process

/ bĕs′ə-mər /

1. A method for making steel by forcing compressed air through molten iron to burn out carbon and other impurities.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Bessemer process¹

First recorded in 1855–60; after H. Bessemer

Word History and Origins

Origin of Bessemer process¹

C19: named after Sir Henry Bessemer (1813–98), English engineer

Example Sentences

Nothing but books, and literally tons of them on everything from languages to philosophy, from farming to the Bessemer Process.

From Project Gutenberg

The Bessemer process makes enormous masses of steel and makes it very cheaply; but it has one fault—it is too quick.

From Project Gutenberg

But there was nothing to be compared with the solid steel article which the Bessemer process produced.

From Project Gutenberg

Further purification is commonly carried on by a process very similar to the Bessemer process for steel.

From Project Gutenberg

The Bessemer process was used much more extensively upon the Continent than in this country in the manufacture of castings.

From Project Gutenberg