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Wrought iron

J

Jared Stenoien

Joined
Dec 4, 2005
Messages
1,025
I'm about to receive a piece of what is most probably wrought iron from Tom Megow that he was generous enough to donate and he sent me the result of having it analyzed
Fe 98.9%
C 0.11%
Mn 0.42%
P 0.005%
S 0.035%
Si 0.06%
Ni 0.07%
Cr 0.03%
Mo 0.00%

it's wrought iron i'm pretty sure because of the carbon content, i was just wondering why so much manganese?
 
That would meet the specs for 1010 steel. Real wrought should have more silicon .I can't find the chemistry for wrought iron.
 
FWIW - In my experience with WI over 40 years the silicon content will vary considerably dependent on well refined it was/is - during the period WI was made it came in various grades often denoted as single wrought, double wrought, etc. - apparently during the refining process (essentially heat and beat) much of the silicon can/be is removed.

IMO - The high manganese content is most likely due to the ore source, I know that the natural deposits of iron ore near Solingen, Germany tend to have a high manganese content....
 
The primary difference between wrought iron, steel and cast iron is carbon content.


Wrought iron contains essentially no carbon.


Steel ranges from just above 0% to approximately 2% carbon. Most cast iron contains from 2.0% to about 4.0% carbon.


What you have there is 1008/1010 as Mete has suggested.
 
well according to wikipedia and a couple other sources, wrought iron has <.15% carbon in it, thats why i figured it was wrought iron, but it's kind of a moot point now, just got the piece in this morning and did a test etch, it looks very nice, much different from steel that i've etched:thumbup: thanks tom, i'm cutting it tonight and should have pics in a few days if i can get ahold of a camera
 
Wikipedia is incorrect if they're saying that steel with say, .08 carbon is wrought iron. True wrought iron should have almost no carbon whatsoever.
 
My first post (except for the last line) was taken verbatim from "Metallurgy Fundamentals" by Brandt, Goodheart-Wilcox.

Wikipedia has varying perameters for wrought iron depending upon the keywork. (.20% in one and "almost no carbon" in another) I suspect confusion has crept in because anything made of mild steel today is called "wrought iron," so in a modern sense, "wrought iron" averages .10-.18 carbon. Tests I've read about on historic wrought iron indicate carbon below .03% on average.


According to my ASM guide, it goes: "almost zero carbon"= wrought iron, up to about 2%=steel, 2% to about 4%= cast iron, just as stated in "Metalurgy Fundamentals."


My experience forging wrought iron is that it's very "Thirsty" for carbon. If you weld it to steel , there will be carbon migration, and if you work that piece at high temps (which you have to do welding WI) the migration can be severe. If you are getting that pronounced "rotten wood" pattern etch on your material, and your carbon is as high as .11, I'd guess your material is a more refined/worked grade that has been exposed to a somewhat prolonged carboniferous atmosphere (reducing) while being worked, thus soaking up some spare carbon in the process.

It would be great if you could post the pics!!
 
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