Wrought Iron Vs Steel

Wrought Iron Vs Steel

Ok so metal is just metal to many people and the terms wrought iron, steel and metal are frequently used interchangeably by a wide variety of different organisations all over the internet, and even by ourselves- But there is a difference, as we’ll explain……

Both wrought iron and steel have their own pros and cons but which is best we hear you ask – let us try and explain.

What are the differences between steel and wrought iron?

Because wrought iron and steel are often advertised as the same thing, often in the same sentence or description, it’s not clearly obvious that there is any difference at all. From a scientific perspective however, there are some differences that you should be aware of that may assist in helping to determine which metal is best for your gate, balustrade, railing system or otherwise.

The major difference is that steel is an alloy (a metal made by combining two or more elements) whereas iron is an element in itself, found in the periodic table. So in the most simplistic terms possible, steel is man-made from a mixture of carbon and iron, whereas iron is a raw material that can be extracted straight from the ground.

Wrought iron has been used for centuries all around the world and the traditional image this tends to conjure up is one of a blacksmith, forming and bending metalwork over an anvil with a large hammer. This method of steel manipulation still exists today however modern manufacturing techniques often use steel as it’s more corrosion resistant, stronger and ideal to work with in various production techniques such as laser cutting, stamping and rolling.

If you’ve ever seen an ornate set of metal gates for example, these are usually manufactured with a combination of both iron and steel. Steel would be used for the vast majority of the structure and iron used for the more intricate fittings, finials and detailing.

Get in touch with us to discuss your metalwork requirements on 0114 243 9009 or email sales@diometonline.co.uk