The history of steel | from the Iron Age to the Age of technology

The history of steel|from the Iron Age to the Age of technology

Steel,the world's most important basic application material,has permeated every aspect of human life,from infrastructure and transportation to tin cans for storing food.From the Iron Age to the age of technology,the history of steel has witnessed the progress and development of human civilization.This article will take you through the evolution of steel and explore its profound impact on society,economy and culture.

The origin and development of the Iron Age

The Iron Age is an important stage in human history,usually considered a period of development after the Bronze Age.It not only marked a major advance in metalworking technology,but also profoundly influenced social structures,economic models and cultural development.

The use of iron dates back to around 3000 BC,and early iron ware was mainly through the direct utilization of meteorite iron found in nature.However,iron smelting technology was not widely used in the early days.With the advent of the Bronze Age,bronze became the main metal material,until around 1200 BC,the use of iron gradually began to become popular,marking the arrival of the Iron Age.The beginning of the Iron Age was different in different regions.In the Middle East,for example,the use of iron began around 1200 BC,while in China it was widely used around 600 BC.

The advent of the Iron Age was aided by advances in metallurgical technology.Early iron was usually made by forging and welding techniques,where craftsmen heated iron ore,removed impurities,and then forged it into tools and weapons.With the continuous improvement of smelting technology,people have gradually mastered the skills of high-temperature smelting,which has greatly improved the quality and performance of iron.

In the early years of the Iron Age,the production of iron was still manual,but with the development of society,production gradually achieved scale.The production of iron not only satisfied agricultural and military needs,but also promoted the development of trade.The iron trade between different regions promoted the exchange of technology and the spread of culture.

The widespread use of iron had a profound impact on society and economy.First,the robustness and durability of iron made agricultural production much more efficient.The use of iron farm tools,such as plows and hoes,made farming more efficient and promoted agricultural productivity.This change not only increased food production,but also provided the basis for population growth.Second,the advent of iron changed the dynamics of warfare.The robustness and sharpness of iron weapons led to fundamental changes in the ancient way of warfare.Wars between nations and tribes have increased in frequency,and competition in military technology has become more intense.The use of iron gave some tribes and nations an advantage in warfare,which drove changes in political structures.In addition,the spread of iron facilitated the development of trade.The production and exchange of iron made economic ties between different regions closer,and trade networks gradually formed.This process not only promoted the circulation of goods,but also promoted the exchange of cultures,making the interaction between different civilizations more frequent.

Evolution of steel smelting technology

After the Iron Age,steel smelting technology continued to evolve,making steel gradually replace iron,becoming a more important metal material.

Around 1200 BC,the Hittite kingdom collapsed and the tribes dispersed to Europe and Asia with their knowledge of ironmaking.Iron Age craftsmen did not know the chemical process of steel smelting,which was mysterious and the results depended on the skill of the blacksmith.The more skilled are the blacksmiths of South India.As early as the 3rd century BC,they used charcoal to heat crucibles to melt wrought iron and smelt"Uzi steel,"a material still known for its quality.

Chinese blacksmiths also smelt high-quality steel.China's steelmaking history dates back to the 2nd century BC,and its steelmaking process is close to the"Bessemer acid converter process",a process developed in Europe in the 19th century AD.From about 600 to 900 AD,steel agricultural tools were widely used in the Tang Dynasty.

War was the driving force behind the early development of steel.Royal armies,including those of China,Greece,Persia and Rome,needed durable and powerful weapons and armor.Many tools,such as axes,saws and chisels,are more durable and efficient when steel is added.Despite the increasing demand for steel,steelmaking remains a slow,time-consuming and expensive process.

By the 15th century,steel was widely used all over the world.The production of the sword in particular highlights the excellent characteristics of steel,and the blade needs to be tough,hard and sharp.By the 12th century,processes such as blast furnace steelmaking had begun to appear and become widely known in Asia.Most steelmakers of that era had learned to produce steel using the carburizing process,in which carbon powder is infiltrated into the surface of wrought iron rods by prolonged heating to increase the carbon content of the alloy.This process may take days or weeks.

In 1740,a young English man,Benjamin Huntsman,revealed the new process of crucible iron making to cutters in northern England.Using clay pot,the melting temperature of the bar is high enough to meet the requirements of carburizing process,and at the same time,the produced molten steel can be cast into uniform and high-quality ingots.Compared to the past,the process has increased the yield.Although Huntsman's invention did not achieve the goal of producing high-quality steel at low cost and high volume,his technology helped Sheffield,England,become one of the great steelmaking centers of the 19th and 20th centuries.

The Industrial Revolution was an era of technological innovation and creation,and Huntsman's crucible technology was just one of many inventions during this period.The Industrial Revolution originated in the United Kingdom and had a huge impact on manufacturing,trade and all areas of society worldwide.The Industrial Revolution began in the 18th century,when iron dominated industry.The steam pump drives the water wheel to generate electricity,which can power the blast furnace even during low water periods.Coke and pig iron were in abundant supply,and iron gradually replaced wood as a new building material.At the same time,steel provided many strong,sharp tools for the age of power machinery.Tools such as drills,saw blades,and blades were chosen to be made of steel,and the expansion of the application range of steel further promoted the invention.

Soon,another inventor,Henry Cort,introduced an important production process-rolling sheet metal.As the Industrial Revolution continued,the demand for steel continued to increase.Metals are vital to the development of trade and transportation.Without metal there would be no railways,and the shipbuilding industry also demands higher quality metal parts.Henry Cotter,a supplier to the shipbuilding industry,developed two landmark production techniques to meet the needs of shipbuilding,which were patented in 1783 and 1784 respectively.The first technique is to improve the quality of iron by stirring the molten pig iron in the furnace.This process improves metal toughness and reduces brittleness by reducing carbon content.The second technique is metal rolling before the final product is obtained.Compared with the traditional hammering process,the rolled metal is more ductile and stronger.

The application of steel in modern society

By the 18th century,large-scale industrial production was flourishing all over Europe.The pioneers carried those advanced techniques and technologies across oceans,bringing industrialization to North America,Japan,and other parts of the world.Steel played a vital role in the development of the American Midwest,and plows made of wrought iron could easily push through the heavy soil.Steel plows and steam-powered equipment changed the face of agriculture and began to enter the age of mechanization.

In the 1850s and 1860s,new technologies emerged that made mass production possible.The 1880s laid the foundation for the modern steel industry.Now,it has been able to continuously produce a large number of high-quality,stable shape and size steel,and large-scale applications in various fields.Since then,steel has quickly replaced iron in railways and various building structures,from Bridges to houses.The use of steel can produce huge power turbines and generators,so that water and steam can be used to further power industrialization,thus opening up the age of electricity.

Steel is used everywhere in modern society.At Beijing Daxing International Airport,the amount of steel reinforcement in the terminal alone reaches 173,000 tons,while the dome is welded from 63,400 steel structural parts,with a total weight of 55,000 tons.The steel plate of the main bridge of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge alone amounts to 420,000 tons,which is equivalent to the weight of 10"bird's nests".China's nuclear submarines,aircraft carriers,missile cruisers,deep-sea probes and other major powers are also made of domestic steel.

The development of China's iron and steel industry

The 75 years of development of the iron and steel industry in New China is also a vivid epitome of the magnificent development process of New China.The iron and steel industry does not forget the original intention of"serving the country with steel",keep in mind the mission of"steel power",and always stand up the"steel backbone"in the great historical journey of the Chinese nation to stand up,get rich and become strong.

In 1949,China's steel production,known as"industrial grain,"was only 158,000 tons.This is a drop in the bucket for the new China,which is poor,has many things to build and desperately needs to complete industrialization.Under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China,the new China's iron and steel industry has overcome difficulties,worked hard,and walked out of a development path from small to large,from weak to strong.Today,China's crude steel production has exceeded 1 billion tons,ranking first in the world for 28 consecutive years.

China's steel industry has formed the most complete steel industry system.After 75 years of cultivation,development and deep cultivation,China's iron and steel industry has built and formed a system of mutual support,mutual connection and mutual support between the two dimensions of the industrial chain and the industrial surface.Both ore,coke,sintering,iron,steel,rolling and other full-process production systems,but also geological exploration,resource development,refractory materials,coal,scrap steel,carbon,ferroalloy and other upstream steel industry chain support,as well as consulting,design,equipment,construction,scientific research institutes and other industries supporting.A complete industrial system is an important basis for China's iron and steel industry to always maintain strong international competitiveness.

China's steel industry is rising in quantity and quality.In the early days of the founding of New China,China could only smelt more than 100 types of steel and rolled more than 400 specifications of steel.Today,Baowu automobile plate,Angang shipbuilding plate,Hesteel home appliance steel,CITIC Special Steel bearing steel,Shougang Electrical steel,TISCO hand torn steel...China's steel brands have gained a global reputation.

China's steel industry is gradually moving towards high-end.Through the elimination of backward and new construction,the technical equipment level of China's iron and steel industry continues to move to the high-end.For example,Pangang 100-meter rail length waste heat quenching process technology,"the king of the world rolling mill"Ansteel Bayuquan 5500 mm wide and thick plate mill.

The green development of China's iron and steel industry has made remarkable achievements.In the past,the iron and steel industry in people's impression is"stupid",serious pollution.After 75 years of development and transformation,China's steel industry has now been transformed into a green industry.

The intelligent development of China's steel industry has entered a fast lane.Iron and steel industry is a traditional industry,is a personnel intensive industry.With the increasingly fierce market competition,as well as the rapid iteration and rapid development of digital and intelligent technology,the intelligent transformation of the steel industry is imminent.

Conclusion

From the Iron Age to the age of science and technology,the evolution of steel has witnessed the progress and development of human civilization.Steel is not only an important basic application material,but also an important force to promote social,economic and cultural progress.