Wrought iron has gained immense popularity with its varied applications like custom wrought iron doors Keller. It is frequently used as a preferred door construction material. Plus, there are other uses of wrought iron. It is used in many things, including furniture, architectural details and the construction of buildings.
If you would like to know how to recognize wrought iron when making custom iron doors Keller, this article is for you.
What is wrought iron?
Wrought iron is an alloy of iron. It is called wrought for the reason that it was forged into a shape using great heat and pressure. The process was performed using coke and other kinds of reducing agents.
What are the properties of wrought iron?
Wrought iron is not a pure form of iron. It is an alloy composed of maximum 0.8% carbon. Additionally, the presence of manganese and phosphorus gives it its characteristic brownish-black color. Wrought iron may also contain a tiny bit of nickel and magnesium, which gives it its silvery appearance.
How is wrought iron different from cast iron?
Wrought iron is hand-crafted using a hammer and anvil. This provides a much better scope of customization by the human hands. Cast iron is typically made by combining layers of metal and adding clay to form a mold. This process is known as casting or forging.
Wrought iron is malleable in nature. Hence, the degree and scope of customization increase drastically as compared to cast iron.
You can use wrought iron in several situations, such as the construction of custom iron doors Keller, window frames, building facades, and other indoor structures.
Tests to identify wrought iron
Spark test - Wrought iron has high carbon content, which leads to red sparks instead of the white sparks of steel.
Expert assessment - An ironworker will bang a hammer against the material. The resulting effects and feeling will be sure-shot guidance about whether it is wrought iron or not.
Quench hardening test - If the metal hardens fast during this process, it is steel and not wrought iron.
It is important that you know how to identify wrought iron when looking to purchase this material. If you have any doubts, always ask an expert in custom iron doors Keller.