wrought iron

iron having a low carbon content that is tough and malleable and so can be forged and welded

Wrought iron is a very pure form of commercial iron, having a very small carbon content. It is tough, malleable, ductile and can be easily weldingwelded. However, it is too soft to make blades and swords. Wrought iron has been used for thousands of years, and represents the "iron" that is referred to throughout history. Wrought iron was originally produced by a variety of methods today known as a bloomery. Bloomeries used charcoal-heated smelters, typically in the form of small pots or ladles, into which the ore was poured and then covered with a thin layer of charcoal. Air was blown onto the charcoal after lighting it on fire. The heat produced would melt the ore. As the ore melted it would be reduced (ore is iron oxide, or rust), mixing with the charcoal to release carbon dioxide. This way little carbon entered the iron directly.In a bloomery, the fire does not get hot enough to melt the iron completely, so you are left with a spongy mass containing iron and silicates from the ore -- this is iron bloom from which the technique gets its name. The bloom was then mechanically worked to break off the masses of slag and impurities. This process gives rise to the name "wrought", as the iron was pounded and twisted.The introduction of the blast furnace by Abraham Darby I in 1709 changed ironmaking by replacing charcoal with the much less expensive coke (fuel)coke. Not only was the fuel much cheaper, but it also could be burned in a "lump" instead of a thin sheet, allowing the furnaces to be much larger. Soon iron prices were dropping rapidly as production shot up.However the product of a blast furnace, pig iron, had a very high carbon content and was very brittle. In order to use it in ironmongery, it had to first be converted to a form similar to what the bloom/wrought process produced. This process took time to develop, but by the 17501750s a number of oxides had been identified that would react with the excess carbon to produce carbon dioxide, which then bubbles out.Historically, this would be followed by faggoting. Wrought iron which had been faggoted twice was referred to as "Best"; if faggoted again it would become "Best Best", then "Treble best", etc.Faggoting resulted in impurities within the metal ending up as long thin inclusions, creating a grain within the metal. "Best" bars would have a tensile strength along the grain of about 23 tons per square inch (317 MPa). "Treble best" could reach 28 tons per square inch (386 MPa). The strengths across the grain would be about 15% lower.Wrought iron products as described in routine commercial transactions usually refer to mild steel products which are also described as ornamental iron work.Word Origin: The word “wrought” is the old past tense of the verb ''to work''. As irregular past-tense forms in English have historically been phased out over long periods of time, ''wrought'' became ''worked''. ''Wrought iron'' literally means ''Worked iron''.

See also -

Pig ironCategory:Alloysfr:Fer forgénl:Smeedijzer

Architectural Ironmongery
Specialists in high class restoration hardware. World wide mail order and retail company. Extensive range of period door and window ironmongery, security, bathroom and electrical fittings.
http://www.arciron.com/

Mr Craig Klintworth
Manufactures and purveyors of the finest wrought iron work and home de'cor accessories
http://www.mkontolifestyle.co.za

Neumann Studios Stained Glass
Full service studio offering traditional kiln-fired leaded stained glass for residences, churches, inns, restaurants, businesses.
http://www.neumannstudios.com/

Wrought iron artistic handwork
Since 1927 wrought iron artistic handwork. Gate, balustrades handrail, grating, bed, table, chair
http://www.sampietro.com/

Roger S Wright Furniture, Ltd
Kitchens, custom furniture, lighting, gifts and accessories for the country home.
http://www.rswfurniture.com/

Celtic Wrought Iron Bed Company
Traditional, handmade Irish wrought iron beds; shipped worldwide.
http://www.thewroughtironco.com/

The Real Wrought Iron Co Ltd
Supplier of both puddled and charcoal wrought iron to blacksmiths throughout the world, for use in the restoration of historic ironwork and the construction of new commissions .
http://www.realwroughtiron.com/

Iron Elegance
Decorative, forged, and handmade iron products for the home and garden. European art glass and gifts.
http://www.ironelegance.com/

Iron Accents
Decorative ornamental iron planters, brackets, plaques, and finials.
http://www.ironaccents.com/