Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Mystery Of Delhi's Iron Pillar Unraveled
India Express ^ | 7-18-2002

Posted on 03/13/2005 1:55:06 PM PST by blam

Mystery of Delhi's Iron Pillar unraveled

Press Trust Of India
Thursday, July 18, 2002

New Delhi, July 18: Experts at the Indian Instituteof Technology have resolved the mystery behind the 1,600-year-old iron pillar in Delhi, which has never corroded despite the capital's harsh weather.

Metallurgists at Kanpur IIT have discovered that a thin layer of "misawite", a compound of iron, oxygen and hydrogen, has protected the cast iron pillar from rust.

The protective film took form within three years after erection of the pillar and has been growing ever so slowly since then. After 1,600 years, the film has grown just one-twentieth of a millimeter thick, according to R. Balasubramaniam of the IIT.

In a report published in the journal Current Science Balasubramanian says, the protective film was formed catalytically by the presence of high amounts of phosphorous in the iron—as much as one per cent against less than 0.05 per cent in today's iron.

The high phosphorous content is a result of the unique iron-making process practiced by ancient Indians, who reduced iron ore into steel in one step by mixing it with charcoal.

Modern blast furnaces, on the other hand, use limestone in place of charcoal yielding molten slag and pig iron that is later converted into steel. In the modern process most phosphorous is carried away by the slag.

The pillar—over seven metres high and weighing more than six tonnes—was erected by Kumara Gupta of Gupta dynasty that ruled northern India in AD 320-540.

Stating that the pillar is "a living testimony to the skill of metallurgists of ancient India", Balasubramaniam said the "kinetic scheme" that his group developed for predicting growth of the protective film may be useful for modeling long-term corrosion behaviour of containers for nuclear storage applications.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: archaeology; delhis; ggg; godsgravesglyphs; history; india; iron; mystery; pillar; unraveled
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-47 next last

1 posted on 03/13/2005 1:55:09 PM PST by blam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: blam

They don't make 'em like they used to.


2 posted on 03/13/2005 1:57:21 PM PST by jocon307
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv
GGG Ping.

And this today:

More research needed on Delhi Iron Pillar: experts:

[India News]: New Delhi, Mar 13

The Delhi Iron Pillar, which has withstood corrosion for over 1,600 years, continues to attract the attention of archaeologists and scientists who want to undertake a systematic study to unfold the secret behind its strength.

A panel of scientists from across the country has recommended that the Government allow research on the pillar, a symbol of Indian metallurgical excellence, to ascertain its age, as well as for conservation of its underground part and the passive film that has preserved it through the ages.

"The Archaeological Survey of India has agreed to allow the use of well-established non-invasive techniques to ascertain as to when was the pillar built and its material aspects. But the efficacy of the techniques should be established by testing other ancient iron objects such as Iron Pillar at Dhar and Iron Beams at Konark," Director, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Dr Baldev Raj, who was a member of the panel that made the recommendations, said.

The panel had gathered here to review the status of scientific research on the pillar and make recommendations to the Government to initiate systematic scientific studies to gain more information about it.

Earlier studies, beginning in 1961, have thrown some light on the composition and the microstructure of the "rustless wonder", but difference versions exist on the scientific dating of the pillar, Professor R Balasubramaniam, a scientist at IIT Kanpur who has conducted extensive research on the pillar, said. PTI

3 posted on 03/13/2005 1:59:56 PM PST by blam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: blam

Good Lord, this technology has been around for over 1600 years? To think how much rust proof steel could have saved in money, time, and labor. Staggering.


4 posted on 03/13/2005 2:04:41 PM PST by Free Vulcan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Free Vulcan

This is not a union friendly material.


5 posted on 03/13/2005 2:07:18 PM PST by nygoose
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: blam

I have a photo of the iron pillar from my visit to Delhi but don't know how to post it.


6 posted on 03/13/2005 2:10:16 PM PST by razoroccam (Then in the name of Allah, they will let loose the Germs of War (http://www.booksurge.com))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: blam
the film has grown just one-twentieth of a millimeter thick,



It has only grown 1/20 of a millimeter thick, but somehow encompasses the entire pillar from top to bottom.
7 posted on 03/13/2005 2:11:27 PM PST by Bostton1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Free Vulcan

"Good Lord, this technology has been around for over 1600 years? To think how much rust proof steel could have saved in money, time, and labor. Staggering."

I just thought the same thing - rust proof! All these years, the technology was lost. How many other secrets have been lost to us, and are just waiting to be rediscovered?


8 posted on 03/13/2005 2:21:34 PM PST by dandelion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Bostton1
"It has only grown 1/20 of a millimeter thick, but somehow encompasses the entire pillar from top to bottom."

Not hard to understand. The phosphorous that caused the beneficial reaction (probably electrochemical to produce the necessary hydrogen--but the article doesn't say--consider that "chemical speculation") is distributed uniformly throughout the iron matrix due to the way the iron was made. The film will only form on the surface exposed to moisture and oxygen, which is only (but everywhere) on the surface of the entire pillar from top to bottom.

9 posted on 03/13/2005 2:22:34 PM PST by Wonder Warthog (The Hog of Steel)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: razoroccam
It has to be on a webpage, for you to be able to post it.

I did a search and found some pictures of it.

Iron Pillar

The above article is from corrosion-doctors.org website and gives more details about the pillar and the theories about why it's not corroded.

10 posted on 03/13/2005 2:22:51 PM PST by FairOpinion (It is better to light a candle, than curse the darkness.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: dandelion

My Granddad passed away last year at age 98. He was at turns a foundry worker, machinist, master patternmaker and coremaker. He claimed that the "old timers" (folks who were 50 or so in the 1920s) told him that there had once been a process to harden copper so as to use it for tools, etc.
One wonders if the ancient Egyptians (who used copper tools to cut the stone used in the Pyramids) knew of this process.
There was probably a scroll or three on this in the Great Library of Alexandira before it was destroyed.


11 posted on 03/13/2005 2:28:46 PM PST by Ostlandr (Ich liebe alles der Juden und Schwarzen. Ich hast alles der Weissenvolk.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: blam
the protective film was formed catalytically by the presence of high amounts of phosphorous in the iron—as much as one per cent against less than 0.05 per cent in today's iron.

Before everyone goes all ga-ga over the skill of the ancients, consider this. The reason that phosphorous is eliminated by modern metallurgical process is that it causes the iron to be exceedingly brittle, thus rendering it unsuitable for use as a structural material or say a cannon barrel. Perfectly acceptable for a decorative column or ballast weight however.

Regards,
GtG

12 posted on 03/13/2005 2:42:12 PM PST by Gandalf_The_Gray (I live in my own little world, but I like it 'cuz they know me here.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ostlandr

I once owned a copper bladed knife made by the Dawson Hardened Cooper Cutlery Co. I think they were in business in the 20s.
The knife turned out to be valuable once it left my hands.
:(

mc


13 posted on 03/13/2005 2:44:26 PM PST by mcshot (Boldly going nowhere with a smile and appreciation for life.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Ostlandr
My Granddad passed away last year at age 98. He was at turns a foundry worker, machinist, master patternmaker and coremaker. He claimed that the "old timers" (folks who were 50 or so in the 1920s) told him that there had once been a process to harden copper so as to use it for tools, etc.

Rome concurred the world with bronze swords. Iron still beat the heck out of bronze when it became generally available. If you need to harden copper, it may be alloyed w/ beryllium, which also makes the material "non-sparking". A very useful characteristic in some circumstances.

Regards,
GtG

14 posted on 03/13/2005 2:49:14 PM PST by Gandalf_The_Gray (I live in my own little world, but I like it 'cuz they know me here.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: jocon307

Forget the details, where can I get lawn furniture made from this iron?


15 posted on 03/13/2005 2:54:20 PM PST by SampleMan ("Yes I am drunk, very drunk. But you madam are ugly, and tomorrow morning I shall be sober." WSC)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Wonder Warthog
" The film will only form on the surface exposed to moisture and oxygen, which is only (but everywhere) on the surface of the entire pillar from top to bottom."

And, will continue to grow at a decreasing rate as less iron is exposed to the ambient oxygen.

16 posted on 03/13/2005 2:54:27 PM PST by blam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Gandalf_The_Gray

Again, too many details! I have but one question. Can it be put to use as lawn furniture!?!? ;)


17 posted on 03/13/2005 2:57:08 PM PST by SampleMan ("Yes I am drunk, very drunk. But you madam are ugly, and tomorrow morning I shall be sober." WSC)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Gandalf_The_Gray
Before everyone goes all ga-ga over the skill of the ancients, consider this. The reason that phosphorous is eliminated by modern metallurgical process is that it causes the iron to be exceedingly brittle, thus rendering it unsuitable for use as a structural material or say a cannon barrel. Perfectly acceptable for a decorative column or ballast weight however.

And Parkerizing is the formation of basic iron phosphate on a surface to protect it from rusting. Not very "New", but loading the iron with phosphorous and leaving it in the rain is a tedious way to do it. Plus, as you say, the physical properties of the iron would be horrible.

18 posted on 03/13/2005 2:58:16 PM PST by Gorzaloon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Gandalf_The_Gray
"Rome concurred the world with bronze swords. Iron still beat the heck out of bronze when it became generally available. If you need to harden copper, it may be alloyed w/ beryllium, which also makes the material "non-sparking". A very useful characteristic in some circumstances."

FYI: The oldest bronze smeltering site in the world is in Thailand.

19 posted on 03/13/2005 2:59:08 PM PST by blam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Gandalf_The_Gray
reason that phosphorous is eliminated by modern metallurgical process is that it causes the iron to be exceedingly brittle, thus rendering it unsuitable for use as a structural material or say a cannon barrel.

And that, sir, is why you're such a fine wizard.

Of course, had our ancient Indian metalmen been more patient, and added the charcoal somewhat later in the process, they'd have gotten steel....

20 posted on 03/13/2005 2:59:09 PM PST by r9etb
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-47 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson