Classical Studies 2700A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Wrought Iron, Meteoric Iron, Carburizing
2 Feb 2017
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Of the various iron ores, oxides were the most commonly used in ancient times, though some carbonates were used as well (processes are essentially the same). Meteoric iron (iron-bearing meteors are called siderolites) was the first kind known: sumerians called it the heavenly metal and it was comparatively rare. Great problems in smelting iron: melting point of pure iron is c. 1635 c and ancient furnaces could reach only c. 1300 c at best; so no pig iron or cast iron in antiquity. Since melting temp. of iron lowers as it absorbs carbon, what was produced was either wrought iron or, if it was carburised, a form of steel. Description of production of a bloom of iron in a furnace. (processes are known from modern experiments with replicas of roman furnaces; it took about 8 hours to produce c. 9 kg (20 lbs) of metal. )
