Wrought iron is iron with very little carbon, or impurities. This is in stark contrast to cast iron which contains more carbon. Cast iron does not tolerate heat or cold, and can be broken by sufficient force. A hammer blow can crack or shatter cast iron. The same is not true of wrought iron, or at least when done correctly. Iron that contains too much sulfur is defective. It is called redshort and weakens when exposed to high temperature. Phosphorus in iron also produces a defect. It may break in cold temperature. This is called coldshort iron. Of course, the iron produced may intentionally contain either of these substances. For example, iron with phosphorus may be worked in high heat. Exposure to chlorine can increase the likelyhood of corrosion and shorted the working lifetime of iron.
Wrought simply means "worked" as in worked iron. According to
dictionary.reference.com wrought is an out of date past tense form of "to work". The word has its origin in Middle English, which is derived from Old High German "werc" and old Norse "verk". The use of wrought is to signify as difference between it and cast iron. Wrought iron requires more labor and blacksmith skills to produce.
The use of iron reached its high point in the middle of the 19th century. The mid 1800s saw the rise of ironclad vessels, including the famous Merrimac and Monitor of the American civil war. In addition, this time period saw the expansion of the steam engine locomotive. All the tracks laid were iron railroad tracks. The boilers used aboard ships at this time were also made of iron. The classic image of a tramp steamer used iron boilers. Only the advent of the modern steel making process doomed the iron industry. While the knowledge of forging steel had been available for centuries, it was not commercially viable until relatively recently. Thus it can be said that the age of iron began around 1200 BC and lasted three thousand years.
Wrought iron has an appeal for home decor because it has a grain, much like wood. This is caused by slag in the iron. It is used in wine racks, bar stools, candle holders, bakers racks and gates. It has been used for home decor since the time of Roman civilization.
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