---
title: "Electric arc furnace (EAF)"
description: "An electric arc furnace (EAF) melts steel scrap and direct reduced iron (DRI) in a refractory-lined vessel using a high-current electric arc between graphite electrodes and the metal bath. EAF steelmaking is the dominant route in scrap-rich economies (US, Italy, Türkiye, parts of South-East Asia) and is the primary growth path for low-carbon steel via \"mini-mill\" production."
canonical_url: "https://sylio.co/glossary/electric-arc-furnace"
last_updated: "2026-06-28T02:29:40.449Z"
---

An **electric arc furnace (EAF)** melts steel scrap and [direct reduced iron (DRI)](/glossary/direct-reduced-iron) in a refractory-lined vessel using a high-current electric arc between graphite electrodes and the metal bath. EAF steelmaking is the dominant route in scrap-rich economies (US, Italy, Türkiye, parts of South-East Asia) and is the primary growth path for low-carbon steel via "mini-mill" production.

## Fume capture and cleaning

EAF off-gas leaves the furnace through a fourth-hole evacuation duct, is combined with secondary canopy hood emissions, and is collected at a large [baghouse](/glossary/baghouse) — typical capacity 1,000–3,000 m³/s. The baghouse compartments handle fine ferrous and non-ferrous oxide dust at temperatures of 80–150 °C.

## Sonic-horn duty

[Sonic horns](/glossary/sonic-horn) on EAF baghouse compartment roofs and hoppers prevent fine-dust bridging. The hopper duty is particularly demanding because EAF dust contains zinc oxide (from galvanised scrap), which is hygroscopic and sticky.

## Related terms

- [Basic oxygen furnace (BOF)](/glossary/basic-oxygen-furnace)
- [Direct reduced iron (DRI)](/glossary/direct-reduced-iron)
- [Baghouse](/glossary/baghouse)
- [Sonic horn](/glossary/sonic-horn)