Table of Contents
What is wrought iron?
Wrought iron is an alloy of iron having very low (less than 0.08%) amount of carbon in it. It contains some amount (up to 2%) of slag which gives it fibrous appearance. It can also contain a very small amount of Silicon, Sulfur and Phosphorous.
It is very pure iron where the iron content can be up to 99.5%. It is produced by remelting pig iron.
Presence of slag in wrought iron produces such a structure which diminishes the effect of fatigue caused by vibrations and shocks.
Wrought iron is tough, ductile and malleable. It can be welded and forged easily. It can not be hardened by heating and quenching because it does not contain enough carbon.
Origin of word Wrought Iron
Meaning of the word Wrought is ‘beaten out or shaped by hammering’
Wrought iron got this name because during its manufacturing, the iron is removed from the heat and worked with a hammer to get its final intended shape.
Properties of wrought iron
- It has excellent weldability
- It cannot be hardened by heating and quenching
- It is ductile
- It cannot take sudden loads
- It is malleable
- It is tough
- It has high tensile strength
- It has high compressive strength
- It can be forged easily
Applications (or uses) of wrought iron
- It is used to make decor items like table base, candle holder, curtain rods etc.
- It is used in making pipes
- It is used in making fences and gates
- It is used in making nuts, bolts, rivets etc.
- It is used in making chains
- It is used in making crane hooks
- It is used in making plates
- It is used in making handrails
- It is used in making carpenter tools
- It is used in general forging applications
- It is used in making railway couplings
Advantages of wrought iron
- It has excellent weldability
- It is tough
- It can be forged easily
- It has high tensile strength
- It has high compressive strength
Disadvantages (or limitations) of wrought iron
- It cannot be hardened by heating and quenching
- It cannot take sudden loads