Existence of Wrought Iron – An overview
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Posted On :
Dec-28-2010
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Article Word Count :
497
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As we know well, iron is one of the most abundant metals on earth without which plenty of things we use daily would not have been invented.
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As we know well, iron is one of the most abundant metals on earth without which plenty of things we use daily would not have been invented. Early iron workers really had a hard time working with it, since making it more malleable was essential to reduce the carbon content in it. For this, the metal has to be melted again and hammered in order to drive out carbon and other impurities. But anyhow, thanks to technological inventions, the process of extracting iron has become easy now-a-days. Wrought iron is nothing but ‘worked out iron’ that contains only a very less content of carbon in it. It is being used in the construction of several huge buildings, monument, churches, and monasteries. Even the world wonder Eiffel tower was constructed from a type of wrought iron.
Right from the existence of iron, a number of methods have been so far used for the extraction of wrought iron. Originally, the production method used was by smelting using bloomeries. It is a sort of furnace containing a pit and chimney with stone or clay walls for heat resistance. Once the bloomery was filled with charcoal and iron ore, it was lit and air was forced through the pipes to heat the mixture to just below the melting point of iron. With this, the impurities would melt and run off, and the carbon monoxide from the charcoal reduces the ore into iron in a sponge like mass. Later, this material was forged with hammers, which removed impurities in the process. During middle ages, this production method was barely in use, and iron workers started to rely on a much easier process. Water was used to power the bellows, thereby making the job simpler. They used the concept of blast furnace, with which the iron created was very brittle and needed to be refined.
Next came the period of using puddling furnace. It was considered in those days as the most successful way of creating wrought iron without the use of charcoal. Nineteenth century was the time at which there was an ultimate demand for stronger wrought iron. As a consequence, a new method to mass-produce puddle iron was brought into the industry. This new mass production of wrought iron created a metal with a higher tensile strength and a small increase in carbon content. The word “wrought iron” is now-a-days commonly used to describe products that are actually made from mild steel. The higher the carbon content, less ductile is the iron and steel. Mild steel has the lowest carbon content of between .05% and .26% making it quite easy to work with. Wrought iron are currently used in manufacturing water pipes, railway couplings, nuts and bolts, fences, gates, wine racks and few other decorative iron works. Therefore, even if the manufacturing of wrought iron has experienced many changes over the centuries, the purpose they serve for is still the same by providing excellent and attractive products.
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Article Source :
http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Existence of Wrought Iron – An overview_46229.aspx
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Author Resource :
The author of this article has expertise in Wrought iron. The articles on Wrought iron reveals the author’s knowledge on the same. The author has written many articles on Wrought iron as well.
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Keywords :
Wrought iron, Wrought iron gates, Fence panels, Wrought iron railings, Wrought iron furniture, Sheet metal fabricators, Metal,
Category :
Business
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Business
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