The Armourer Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 I was just wondering, it is possible to temper pure iron? I am not going to do it in the near future, but I was just thinking. Do you need the carbon to temper to be flexible? Does tempered iron shrink because of the absense of carbon? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 there is nothing to temper in iron. it is not hardenable. There is no carbon in iron. If there were it would be called steel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacobd Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 Good luck finding pure iron. The lowest carbon steel you will find without some digging will be 1018. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRS Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 Good luck finding pure iron. The lowest carbon steel you will find without some digging will be 1018. ARMCO Iron, about 99.9 pure iron, carbon content of 0.01% Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 work hardening cold and then keeping it below the dislocation climb temp is the only way to add stiffness/hardness to pure iron. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 Good luck finding pure iron. The lowest carbon steel you will find without some digging will be 1018. you are forgetting that some wrought iron can be lower, 1005 is way lower.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 Pure Iron is a specific material, and the nearest thing you will get to wrought iron, the UTS of Pure Iron is between 15 and 24 tons psi, The main difference beteen the two being that pure iron does not contain any slag or laminations and is purported to have superior corrosion resistance. It is also easily fire welded. Made and supplied in the UK ( and exported world wide) Samples were available and used at the International Blacksmiths Festival, and impressed many that tried them. bad link removed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Armourer Posted November 5, 2014 Author Share Posted November 5, 2014 Thanks everybody, I appreciate the expertise. I wasn't looking to do anything with pure or wrought iron, just thinking about things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWooldridge Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 I have some 1005 steel in 3/8 round - it was leftover from a machining operation for electrical contacts. Forges like "buddah" (that's butter for anyone who thinks I meant Buddha <LOL>). It would be great if the low carbon stuff was generally available but it was special order and cost about as much as tool steel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 One of the many uses for Pure iron is in the production of magnets (pole cores, yokes and armatures), so you may be able to find some in your local scrapyard/recyclers to have a play with. For those interested there is some excellent history and technical information here, http://www.pctmg.nl/uploads/API-Brochure.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted November 22, 2014 Share Posted November 22, 2014 There's a guy on ebay advertising 'pure iron' bar stock. It was rather pricey so I didn't really consider it for anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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