Microstructure, Processing, and Properties of Early Twentieth Century Wrought Iron

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-21-2025

Department

Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Abstract

Wrought iron is known as a material of antiquity, with archaeological evidence of production dating back approximately 5000 years. Around the turn of the twentieth century, wrought iron was produced by a transient liquid phase processing method, known as puddling. The present work discusses the historical process of puddling to produce wrought iron and relates effects of this process on the microstructure. Microstructure analysis and mechanical testing were performed on a wrought iron, boiler stay-bolt from a steam locomotive built in the early twentieth century. State-of-the-art characterization techniques revealed the composition, anisotropic microstructure, and chemical distribution in the ferrite and slag. Mechanical testing and fracture analysis indicated anisotropic mechanical performance reflecting the microstructure and processing technology used to produce the wrought iron.

Publication Title

Metallography, Microstructure, and Analysis

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