Charcoal iron
Encyclopedia
Charcoal iron is the substance created by the smelting
of iron ore with charcoal
.
All ironmaking blast furnaces were fueled by charcoal until Abraham Darby
introduced coke
as a fuel in 1709. The more economical coke soon replaced charcoal in British furnaces, but in the United States
, where timber for charcoal was abundant, charcoal furnaces lingered much longer. Even after the introduction of anthracite smelting
to the US in 1839, and the development of American coke production later in the century, charcoal iron continued to find favor because of its heat-resistance, toughness, and malleability. The last charcoal furnace in the US did not close until 1945. The traditional Japan
ese tatara
furnace uses charcoal and ironsand
to produce a mixture of iron and steel.
In Britain, the penultimate furnace built was Alderwasley in 1764, followed by Warsash Furnace in 1869. The last working furnace at Backbarrow converted to coke in 1922.
Smelting
Smelting is a form of extractive metallurgy; its main use is to produce a metal from its ore. This includes iron extraction from iron ore, and copper extraction and other base metals from their ores...
of iron ore with charcoal
Charcoal
Charcoal is the dark grey residue consisting of carbon, and any remaining ash, obtained by removing water and other volatile constituents from animal and vegetation substances. Charcoal is usually produced by slow pyrolysis, the heating of wood or other substances in the absence of oxygen...
.
All ironmaking blast furnaces were fueled by charcoal until Abraham Darby
Abraham Darby
Abraham Darby may refer to:*Abraham Darby I *Abraham Darby II *Abraham Darby III *Abraham Darby IV , High Sheriff of BuckinghamshireAbraham Darby may also refer to:...
introduced coke
Coke (fuel)
Coke is the solid carbonaceous material derived from destructive distillation of low-ash, low-sulfur bituminous coal. Cokes from coal are grey, hard, and porous. While coke can be formed naturally, the commonly used form is man-made.- History :...
as a fuel in 1709. The more economical coke soon replaced charcoal in British furnaces, but in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where timber for charcoal was abundant, charcoal furnaces lingered much longer. Even after the introduction of anthracite smelting
Anthracite iron
Anthracite iron is the substance created by the smelting together of anthracite coal and iron ore.-Development of the process:Research into the smelting of iron using anthracite coal began in the 1820s...
to the US in 1839, and the development of American coke production later in the century, charcoal iron continued to find favor because of its heat-resistance, toughness, and malleability. The last charcoal furnace in the US did not close until 1945. The traditional Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese tatara
Tatara (furnace)
The is the traditional Japanese furnace used for smelting iron and steel.The word originally meant just foot bellows, but its use was later extended to the whole furnace...
furnace uses charcoal and ironsand
Ironsand
Ironsand is a type of sand with heavy concentrations of the metal iron. It is typically dark grey or blackish in colour.It comprises mainly magnetite, Fe3O4, and as such is attracted to magnets....
to produce a mixture of iron and steel.
In Britain, the penultimate furnace built was Alderwasley in 1764, followed by Warsash Furnace in 1869. The last working furnace at Backbarrow converted to coke in 1922.