For economic production of stainless steel, high-carbon (5–8%) ferrochrome and scrap are charged into the melting furnace. After melting, the carbon must be removed to prevent intergranular free corrosion (due to a fall in the free chrome content below the critical content, needed for corrosion resistance). In the conventional production process this removal is achieved by blowing oxygen into the furnace. The steel must be raised to a very high temperature in order to achieve the required low-carbon (<0.03%) content.