by Henry Chew

Created on: January 26, 2010

Iron, or its scientific name Ferum is a kind of metal. It has a density of 7.874 gram per cubic meter. Its melting point is at 1538 degree Celcius and boiling point, 2862 degree Celcius. Pure iron has a lustrous surface and is silvery grey in color. But in our world, it rarely exists that way because pure iron oxidizes as soon as it came into contact with moisture and air. Normally, we find them on the earth’s surface as iron ore which we mine extensively all over the world. Ninety percent of all mining activities in the world for metallic ores are for the extraction of iron. That is why, iron is the most widely used metal in the world.  In terms of world consumption, other metals like copper, gold, nickel, chromium and aluminium wouldn’t even come close to the 1 billion tons of iron ore consumed worldwide, every year.

The reason why iron is so widely mined is because it is the main ingredient for the making of steels in which human civilization use so extensively. The use of iron dates back as far as 2000 BCE. It is believed to have started in the Caucasus region which is somewhere in the present Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia (Near Turkey and Iraq). This is the time when the use of iron replaces bronze substantially in the makings of weapons and tools. Iron has the following characteristics which makes it suitable for making steel. It possesses high strength when alloyed with other alloying elements. Pure iron is relatively soft and weak, but its strength improves drastically when alloyed with small amount of other element to become steel. It is also abundant in nature and relatively cheap.

The most common steels produced worldwide are carbon steels, which account for 90% of the world steel production. Carbon steels are basically 95% iron, with the remaining 5% balance, consisting of other alloying elements like Carbon, Manganese, Sulphur, Phosphorus and Silicon. The application of iron and steels in our modern lives are unimaginably vast. We use them to build structures, automobiles, ships, machines etc….In our homes, we come contact with them through our kitchen utensils, cell phones, DVD players and jewelries. Iron and common steels have but one great deficiency. They are susceptible to rust and corrosion. In 1998 alone, rust and corrosion cause the United States of America a staggering 276 billion dollars in repairs and replacement of degrading steel structures and facilities. It is not until 1821 when French metallurgist, Pierre Berthier discovered the corrosive resistant of iron-chromium alloys. Only by 1912, stainless steel becomes commercially available. The cost of stainless steel is naturally higher than the common steels because of its chromiun alloy that helps prevent rust. 

It is a matter of fact that the iron is perhaps one of the most important elements known to mankind. Without it, human civilization and technological progress would just not be possible.

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