Processed ferrous metal and process of production

In the production of ferrous metal from carbon-containing non-particulate scrap steel segments, the steps comprising:

• establishing in the chamber or retort of an axial flow decarburizing atmosphere furnace a random loaded gas-permeable array of non-particulate scrap steel segments each having a maximum dimension of about eight inches and thus loaded being spatially distributed to accommodate uniform axial gas flow among the segments so as to avoid mobilizing or mixing of the loaded segments during decarburizing;
• subjecting the thus loaded segments to a decarburizing anneal cycle in a circulating high water-vapor decarburizing atmosphere at elevated temperatures peaking in the range from about 1300.degree. to about 1650.degree. F. such that on completion of the anneal cycle the segments are decarburized to the core of the segments and the average carbon content of the segments is reduced to less than about 0.04%;
• and cooling the decarburized segments.