IRON
pa nou chang - ds 224 - fall 2020
Iron is a silver white ferrous metal that is soft, malleable, ductile and magnetic. It is the fourth most abundant element in the Earth’s crust. Iron ore is a mixture of iron, sand, clay and other impurities. To remove these impurities the ore is smelted and then refined. The puddling process produces ball-shaped high carbon pig iron that could be shaped or wrought. Cast iron and wrought iron are two major types of iron that are produced.
Cast iron is an alloy of iron with 2 to 4.5 percent carbon and 1 to 4 percent silicon. It is hard and long wearing but brittle. It also has low tensile strength and is not malleable. Some uses for cast iron include hardware, stairs, ornamental railings, decorative garden furniture and may also be used for plumbing waste pipes.
Wrought iron is an alloy of iron with usually 1 or 2 percent of carbon and 1 to 2 percent slag. The puddling method is used to create wrought iron. It is tough but malleable and relatively soft. It is easy to forge and weld. Some uses for wrought iron include cabinet and decorative hardware, gates, outdoor furnishings, railings, fences, screens, ornamental work, light fixture and curtain rods.
Iron as a decorative wallcovering
Mining for iron ore can cause damage on the Earth and leaves humongous mine holes. Greenhouse gas emissions is the result of the production of iron and other metals. However, iron can be recycled without losing its quality. It is cheaper to recycle than to extract and manufacture raw materials. Plus, by recycling iron it doesn't end up in landfills and also reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Lastly, iron does not effect indoor air quality.
It is expensive to produce iron but it does have a long life cycle. By maintaining the iron it will be as good as new. Iron corrodes when exposed to acid or moisture. When iron is rusted use sandpaper to rub the rusted area then wipe it down with a dry cloth to remove the residual particles. To maintain iron, paint it with an oil-based metal primer and paint. The rust or previous paint on the iron should be removed before painting a new layer. Iron objects that are outside are galvanised, coated with zinc or have heavy duty oils or waxes applied.
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Association for Iron & Steel Technology
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American Society for Metals (ASM)
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American Iron and Steel Institute
Iron applied on stair railing with a nature design
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ASTM A532 / A532M - 10 is the Standard Specification for Abrasion-Resistant Cast Irons
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ASTM A327 / A327M - 11 is the Standard Test Methods for Impact Testing of Cast Irons
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ASTM A47 / A47M - 99 is the Standard Specification for Ferritic Malleable Iron Castings
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ASTM A536 - 84 is the Standard Specification for Ductile Iron Castings
Utilizing iron for a table leg that replicates a tree
Neolith iron corten is coated with a satin finish used as tabletop and counter
Iron flooring
Knowles, Evelyn E. Comprehensive Guide for Selecting Interior Finishes, The. Pearson Education (US), 2013. [VitalSource Bookshelf].
Libretexts. “Iron Production.” Chemistry LibreTexts, Libretexts, 15 Aug. 2020, chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Inorganic_Chemistry/Modules_and_Websites_(Inorganic_Chemistry)/Descriptive_Chemistry/Elements_Organized_by_Block/3_d-Block_Elements/1b_Properties_of_Transition_Metals/Metallurgy/The_Extraction_of_Iron/Iron_Production
www.hargreavesfoundry.co.uk, Hargreaves Foundry 2020 -. “The Sustainability of Cast Iron and Its Use as a Modern Building Material.” Hargreaves Foundry : The Sustainability of Cast Iron and Its Use as a Modern Building Material, www.hargreavesfoundry.co.uk/blog/blogview/48/the-sustainability-of-cast-iron-and-its-use-as-a-modern-building-material..
Bracken, Doug. “6 Common Methods for Metal Finishes.” Traditional Building, 10 Aug. 2018, www.traditionalbuilding.com/product-report/methods-for-metal-finishes.
Victoria and Albert Museum, Online Museum. “Caring for Your Iron and Steel.” Caring for Your Iron & Steel, Victoria and Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2RL. Telephone +44 (0)20 7942 2000. Email Vanda@Vam.ac.uk, 18 July 2013, www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/c/caring-for-your-iron-and-steel/.
Bob Vila. “How To: Clean Cast Iron.” Bob Vila, Bobvila.com, 15 Apr. 2014, www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-cast-iron/.