Is the residue left behind after bituminous coal, petroleum or coal-tar pitch has gone through a process of distillation (carbonisation). This is when all the volatile constituents have been driven off by heat, leaving the fixed carbon and ash to fuse together. Grey lumps that may contain fines (breeze). It is commonly artificial but there exists natural coke as well, e.g., where a dike has intersected a bituminous coal bed and has converted the bordering coal to natural coke (see "trade names/synonyms"). Used in steel making as fuel for furnace work/blast furnaces. The carbon it contains helps in the reduction of iron ore,i.e., it turns iron oxide into metallic iron. Also used as a source of synthesis gas. Bulk density (kg/m3): 341 to 800.
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