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Wrought iron is an iron alloy with a very low carbon content, in comparison to steel, and has fibrous inclusions, known as slag.
This is what gives it a "grain" resembling wood, which is visible when
it is etched or bent. Wrought iron is tough,
malleable, ductile and easily welded. Wrought iron was originally produced by a variety of smelting processes,
all described today as bloomeries. Different forms of bloomery were
used at different places and times. The bloomery was charged with
charcoaltuyere to heat the bloomery to a temperature somewhat below the melting point
of iron. In the course of the smelt, slag would melt and run out, and carbon monoxide
from the charcoal would reduce the ore to iron, which formed a spongy
mass. The iron remained in the solid state. If the bloomery was allowed
to become hot enough to melt the iron, carbon would dissolve into it and
form pig or cast iron, but that was not the intention. Source: Wikipedia contributors. "Wrought iron." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 19 Apr. 2011. Web. 20 Apr. 2011.
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