生铁是碳的质量分数超过2%，并且其他元素的含量不超过表1中所规定的极限值的铁-碳合金。

a 含量比该极限值高的材料是铁合金。

b 凡规定有最低含量或者含量超过表2注中段落4）所规定的下限值的元素，按表2注重段落3）和4）的规定，均为“其他合金元素”（C、Si、Mn、P、Cr除外）。

b 对该含量范围再进行细化，通常可将该类生铁产品进一步分成不同的等级。

c 根据冶炼生铁所使用的原料不同，生铁冢可能会含有不属于第（4）至第（8）栏所表示的其他元素，对这些元素未规定限定值。这些元素的质量分数有可能达到0.5%，供需双方可协商其限定值，但这些元素不用于对生铁的分类。

Pig iron is the intermediate product of smelting iron ore. It is the molten iron from the blast furnace, which is a large and cylinder-shaped furnace charged with iron ore, coke, and limestone. Charcoal and anthracite have also been used as fuel. Pig iron has a very high carbon content, typically 3.5–4.5%, along with silica and other constituents of dross, which makes it very brittle and not useful directly as a material except for limited applications.